Ash wood is a strong and flexible kind of hardwood. People like it because it has a nice grain pattern in the wood. It’s been used for a long time to make furniture and sports gear. This article will tell you everything about ash wood: the different types, what it looks like, how it’s used, and more. You’ll learn why ash wood is popular and how you can use it for your own projects.
Types of Ash Wood
There are several types of ash wood, each with unique properties and uses:
White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
- Light to medium brown heartwood, wide beige to light brown sapwood
- Straight grain with coarse texture
- Very strong and dense, excellent shock resistance
- Commonly used for tool handles, sports equipment, furniture
Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)
- Light to medium brown heartwood, wide light brown sapwood
- Straight grain, coarse texture
- Lower density than white ash, more porous
- Used for baskets, electric guitars, flooring
Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
- Similar appearance to white ash
- Slightly lower density than white ash
- Common in urban areas, tolerant of pollution
- Used for lumber, furniture, sports equipment
Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata)
- Named for blue inner bark
- More resistant to emerald ash borer than other species
- Good for dry locations
- Used as shade and street tree
European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
- Similar to white ash in appearance and properties
- Commonly used in Europe for furniture, flooring, sports equipment
- Known for excellent steam bending properties.
Characteristics of Ash Wood
Appearance
Ash wood is usually light-colored, ranging from creamy white to light brown. Its natural hue brightens up any room, making it a popular choice for furniture and flooring. The wood typically has a straight grain, though it can sometimes show unique patterns like curly or figured grain, which adds to its attractiveness.
Grain and Texture
Ash wood has a rough, even texture that looks good and works well. The noticeable grain pattern makes it a nice choice for different uses where the wood’s natural beauty is important. The grain is usually straight, giving a clean and traditional appearance, but it can also have more complex patterns that enhance its decorative quality.
Hardness and Density
Ash wood is fairly hard and dense, which makes it strong and able to handle wear and tear. It has a Janka hardness rating of around 1,320, similar to other hardwoods like oak and maple. This toughness makes it suitable for places with lots of activity and uses that need sturdy materials, such as flooring and sports equipment.
Strength and Flexibility
Ash wood stands out for its impressive strength-to-weight ratio. It is strong yet lightweight, making it easy to handle and work with. The wood’s flexibility is also noteworthy, allowing it to absorb shocks effectively. This makes ash wood particularly useful for items like tool handles and sports equipment, where resilience is essential.
Workability
Ash wood is highly prized for its ease of workability, making it a top choice among woodworkers. It is simple to cut, shape, and finish, and it holds nails and screws securely without splitting. The wood sands smoothly, allowing for a fine finish that enhances its natural grain. This versatility with both hand and machine tools makes ash wood suitable for a wide range of woodworking projects.
Shock Resistance
Thanks to its combination of flexibility and strength, ash wood boasts excellent shock resistance. This quality is invaluable for products that must withstand sudden impacts and frequent use. Items such as baseball bats, tool handles, and certain types of furniture benefit greatly from ash wood’s ability to maintain durability and functionality over extended periods.
Weight
Ash wood is lighter than many other hardwoods, making it easier to use in building and manufacturing. Its good balance of strength and weight means it’s easier to move and work with, whether for big structures or small items.
Color Variations
Ash wood is usually light in color, but it can vary depending on the type and where the tree grew. These color changes make each piece unique, allowing for creative and personalized uses in design and construction.
Resistance to Wear and Tear
Ash wood is hard and dense, which helps it resist everyday damage. It can handle heavy use, making it great for high-traffic areas like floors and commercial furniture. With proper care, ash wood products can look good and work well for many years.
Susceptibility to Pests
A drawback of ash wood is that it can be harmed by pests, especially the emerald ash borer. This pest can damage ash trees, affecting the wood’s quality and availability. It’s important to manage and prevent pest infestations to keep ash trees healthy.
Vulnerability to Rot
While ash wood is strong, it can rot and decay if not treated properly. For outdoor use, it needs to be treated and maintained to protect it from moisture and fungi. Using sealants and protective finishes can help it last longer and resist environmental damage.
Uses of ash wood
Here are some of the key uses and applications of ash wood:
Furniture making: Ash is commonly used for tables, chairs, cabinets and other furniture due to its strength, durability and attractive grain pattern.
Flooring: Ash makes excellent hardwood flooring that is durable and has an appealing light color.
Sports equipment: Ash is prized for baseball bats, hockey sticks, oars, and other sporting goods due to its shock resistance and strength-to-weight ratio.
Tool handles: The shock-absorbing properties of ash make it ideal for axe, hammer, shovel and other tool handles.
Interior trim and millwork: Ash is used for moldings, baseboards, and other interior woodwork.
Cabinetry: Its workability and attractive grain make ash popular for kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
Musical instruments: Ash is used in electric guitars, drum shells, and other instruments.
Bent wood applications: Ash steam bends well, making it suitable for curved furniture parts.
Crates and pallets: The strength and affordability of ash make it good for shipping containers.
Veneer: Ash produces attractive veneers for furniture and paneling.
Turned objects: Ash is good for lathe-turned items like bowls, balusters, etc.
Automotive trim: Some car manufacturers use ash for interior wood trim.
Advantages and disadvantages of Ash Wood
Advantages:
Strength and Durability: Ash is a very strong and dense hardwood, similar to oak in durability. It has excellent shock resistance and flexibility.
Attractive Appearance: Ash has a light color and straight grain pattern that many people find attractive. It also takes stains and finishes well.
Good Workability: Despite being hard, ash is relatively easy to work with using both hand and machine tools. It glues, nails, and screws well.
Versatility: Ash can be used for many different things, including furniture, flooring, sports equipment, and tool handles.
Sustainability: Ash trees grow quickly and are plentiful in many areas, making them a renewable resource.
Disadvantages:
Poor Outdoor Durability: Ash is not naturally resistant to decay and insects, so it needs treatment to be used outside.
Open Grain: Ash has an open pore structure, which requires filling for a smooth finish. This can take extra time.
Potential for Splitting: Ash can split easily when nailed or screwed near the edges unless you pre-drill holes.
Weight: While ash’s density makes it strong, it also makes ash furniture heavy and hard to move.
Susceptibility to Pests: Ash trees are prone to emerald ash borer infestations, which could affect future availability and pricing.
Maintenance: Ash wood furniture needs regular care to keep it looking good and to protect it from moisture and UV damage.
Comparing Ash Wood with Other Woods
Ash vs. Oak
Ash and oak are both popular hardwoods, but they have some key differences:
Appearance: Ash has a lighter color (pale to light brown) with a straight, open grain. Oak has a more prominent grain pattern with darker brown tones.
Hardness: Ash (1320 on the Janka scale) is slightly softer than white oak (1360) but harder than red oak (1290).
Workability: Ash is generally easier to work with than oak, being less prone to splitting and taking stains well.
Applications: Both are used for furniture and flooring, but ash is preferred for tool handles and sporting goods due to its shock resistance.
Ash vs. Maple
Hardness: Hard maple (1450 Janka) is slightly harder than ash (1320 Janka).
Grain: Ash has a more pronounced grain pattern compared to maple’s fine, tight grain.
Color: Ash tends to be lighter in color than maple, which can have a slight reddish or golden hue.
Uses: Both are used in furniture and flooring, but ash is more common in tool handles and sporting goods.
Ash vs. Hickory
Hardness: Hickory (1820 Janka) is significantly harder than ash (1320 Janka).
Appearance: Hickory has more color variation and a more prominent grain pattern than ash.
Workability: Ash is easier to work with than the very dense hickory.
Applications: Both are used for tool handles and sporting goods, but hickory is preferred where maximum impact resistance is needed.
Popular Ash Wood Finishes
Here are some of the most popular finishes for ash wood:
Clear finishes:
Water-based polyurethane: Preserves the natural light color of ash without yellowing
Lacquer: Provides a clear, durable finish that doesn’t significantly alter the wood’s color
Shellac: Offers a classic clear finish that adds some warmth
Oil-based finishes:
Danish oil: Enhances the grain and adds a warm amber tone
Tung oil: Provides a natural-looking finish that deepens the wood color slightly
Linseed oil: Brings out the grain and adds a golden hue
Stains:
Dark walnut stain: A popular choice to give ash a rich, dark brown color
Maple or light oak stain: Enhances the grain while keeping a lighter tone
Black ebony stain: Creates a dramatic dark finish
Specialty finishes:
Whitewash or pickled finish: Lightens the wood while still showing the grain
Cerused finish: Highlights the grain by filling it with a contrasting color, often white
Two-tone finishes:
Stain + contrasting grain filler: Adds depth by coloring the wood first, then filling the grain with a contrasting color
Natural-look finishes:
Rubio Monocoat: A zero-VOC oil that protects while maintaining a natural look
Osmo Polyx-Oil: Provides a matte, natural-looking finish.
FAQ
Is ash a good wood?
Yes, ash is generally considered a good wood. It’s strong, durable, and versatile, with excellent shock resistance and workability. Ash is popular for furniture, flooring, tool handles, and sports equipment due to its attractive grain, ability to take finishes well, and good strength-to-weight ratio. However, it’s not ideal for outdoor use without treatment.
Is ash expensive wood?
No, ash is generally considered one of the more affordable hardwoods, often described as among the least expensive domestic hardwoods, relatively affordable compared to other hardwoods, competitively priced with similar properties, often priced similarly to oak but sometimes cheaper, with typical prices ranging from $3-7 per board foot; while not the cheapest wood, ash offers good value, though prices may rise in the future due to emerald ash borer impacts on ash tree populations.
