White Ash

White Ash (Fraxinus americana)

Common Name(s): White Ash, American White Ash Scientific Name: Fraxinus americana Distribution: Eastern North America Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-5 ft (.6-1.5 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 44 lbs/ft3 (710 kg/m3) Basic Specific Gravity: .55 Hardness: 1,320 lbf (5,870 N) Bending Strength: 15,000 lbf/in2 (103,450 kPa) Elasticity: 1,740,000 lbf/in2 (12,000 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 4.9%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 13.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.6

Color/Appearance: The heartwood is a light brown color, though darker shades can also be seen, which is sometimes sold as “olive ash.”

Grain/Pore: Has a medium to coarse texture similar to oak. The grain is almost always straight and regular, though sometimes curly or figured boards can be found.

Durability: Heartwood is rated as perishable, or only slightly durable in regard to decay. Ash is also not resistant to insect attack.

Workability: Easy to work, and takes glues, stains, and finishes well.

Smell: Gives off a distinct, moderately unpleasant smell when being worked.

Safety: Ash in the Fraxinus genus has been reported to occasionally cause a decrease in lung function. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Price Range: Ash is among the least expensive utility hardwoods available domestically; it should compare similarly to oak in terms of price.

Comments: White Ash has fairly good strength properties for its weight, and is also shock resistant. Some common uses for ash include flooring, millwork, boxes/crates, baseball bats, and other turned objects such as tool handles.

Related Species:

• Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)
• Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata)
• European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
• Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
• Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia)
• Pumpkin Ash (Fraxinus profunda)

Scans/Pictures:

White Ash (sanded)

White Ash (sealed)