You must have heard of Ash wood. It is a popular hardwood species that is known for its durability and shock resistance. It is said that ash timber can take shock better than any wood known to mankind, which is why it is commonly used for building tool handles.
Ash wood is a kind of heavy, dense, strong hardwood that is famous for its strength-to-weight ratio, impact resistance, and durability. Different types of ash wood are used for furniture, flooring, cabinetry, sports equipment and everything in between. If you are looking to learn all about the various properties, uses and ash wood types, you’re at the right place. Here you go.
Properties of Ash Wood
Though different species of ash may have different characteristic, but all types share many similar properties, which are as follows:
Color & Grain
Ash wood has a modest grain pattern. The grain is mostly straight and the texture is medium to coarse. The color changes a lot from one species to another, ranging from white to light brown. White ash, for instance, is lighter in color than black ash, which is a bit darker. It has a straight grain and a medium to coarse feel.
Strength & Stability
Ash wood is sturdy and long-lasting, making it appropriate for heavy-duty applications. It has moderate hardness and durability (850 lbf Janka rating), but it has outstanding shock resistance capabilities.
Moreover, it is a robust wood that resists warping and easy shrinkage, making it a strong option for flooring and other applications that call for stability.
Workability
Ash wood is a popular option for furniture and cabinets because it is simple to work with using both hand and power tools. It is also very easy to stain and retains its natural grain even in a stained piece, which can make it look very similar to oak.
Other Ash Wood Properties
- Average Dried Weight: 34 lbs/ft3 (545 kg/m3)
- Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .45, .55
- Janka Hardness: 850 lbf (3,780 N)
- Modulus of Rupture: 12,600 lbf/in2 (86.9 MPa)
- Elastic Modulus: 1,600,000 lbf/in2 (11.00 GPa)
- Crushing Strength: 5,970 lbf/in2 (41.2 MPa)
- Shrinkage: Radial: 5.0%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 15.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.6
10 Different Types of Ash Wood
There are many species of ash lumber. Having knowledge of the different ash wood types will help you find out the best timber for your particular project or identify one type from the other.
1. White Ash
White ash is one of the most popular and used species. It is hard and durable hardwood commonly used for furniture, flooring, and also for making sports equipment such as baseball bats and cricket bats because of its natural shock resistance properties.
2. Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Despite being a hardwood, green ash is relatively softer. It also grows fast, similar to many softwoods. Its common uses includes panelling, paper production, and fuel.
3. Black Ash
Black ash looks slightly darker than other ash wood types. It is a hard, dense wood with a distinctive dark hue. The hardness rating is similar to that of White Ash. It is used for baskets, furniture, and country interior design.
4. Oregon Ash
This type of ash is a light to medium brown color with nearly similar properties as other species. It is a hardwood found in the Pacific Northwest (US) and is commonly used for flooring, furniture, and veneer.
5. Blue Ash
Blue Ash is light to medium brown, but it is not as strong or dense as white ash. It is a quite rare and valuable species of ash that is known for its unique blueish-grey hue. This is generally very expensive and used for high-end furniture and decorative items.
6. Pumpkin Ash
It is a type of Ash that is light-colored but slightly darker than white ash. It is used for flooring, baseball bats, boxes, crates, millwork, and turned objects.
7. European Ash
Also, called common ash, this specie is very common in Europe and Asia. It is a strong, flexible hardwood, sometimes with dark streaks on its body. It is commonly used for furniture, flooring, and tool handles.
8. Chinese Ash
It is a hard, strong and durable hardwood with a light, medium brown color. It is considered suitable for use in furniture, flooring, and cabinetry.
9. Japanese Ash
Japanese ash is light-colored, strong and moderately durable. It is used for furniture, flooring, and bamboo-style veneers.
10. Manchurian Ash
Commonly found in the northeastern Asia regions of northern China, Korea, Japan and southeastern Russia, it is a fast-growing, strong hardwood with a light-medium color. It is used for furniture, flooring, and construction.
Uses of Ash Hardwood in Woodworking
Due to its strength and excellent workability, ash wood is frequently used to make furniture, including chairs, tables, and cabinets. Furniture items made of ash lumber look and feel premium and are strong but not very durable. It is not the best option for making outdoor furniture.
Due to its shock-absorbing qualities, it is frequently used to make handles for tools such as axes, hammers, etc. and sports equipment including baseball bats, hockey sticks, etc.
It is also frequently used for flooring because of its stability and toughness. It doesn’t catch dents easily and can withstand a lot of heavy loads.
Due to its durability and workability, ash wood is also commonly used to construct kitchen cabinets and other types of cabinetry for both domestic and commercial settings.
Because Ash has an appealing appearance, it is often utilised for decorative reasons and for making decorative pieces of lumber, such as veneers and panelling and small wood items.
Where To Buy High-Quality Ash Wood?
It is a strong and durable hardwood that is used in a large variety of applications, from furniture making and flooring to cabinets, plywood, sports equipment, tool handles, and more. However, the suitability of ash wood for a particular project depends on the type of ash and its quality.
If you are looking to know more about different types of ash wood, need help choosing the right hardwood for your project or want to buy premium-quality, commercial-grade ash timber at the lowest price in the market with doorstep delivery worldwide, contact the no.1 wood consulting service provider today.
