Throughout the Eastern USA.
American ash is similar in appearance to European ash.
The sapwood is light colored to nearly white and the
heartwood varies from grayish brown to light brown, to
pale yellow streaked with brown. The wood is generally
straight grained with a coarse uniform texture. The
degree and availability of light colored sapwood, and
other properties, will vary according to the growing
regions.
Ash machines well, is good in nailing, screwing and
gluing, and can be stained and polished to a very good
finish. It dries fairly easily with minimal degrade, and
there is little movement in performance.
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Ash has very good overall strength properties relative
to its weight. It has excellent shock resistance and is
good for steam bending.
Specific Gravity: 0.60 (12% M.C.)
Average Weight: 673 kg/m3 (12% M.C.)
Average Volumetric Shrinkage: 10.7% (Green to 6% M.C.)
Modulus of Elasticity: 11,977 MPa
Hardness: 5871 N
* Values based on Fraxinus americana
Non-resistant to heartwood decay. The sapwood is liable
to attack by powder post and the common furniture
beetle. The heartwood is moderately resistant to
preservative treatment, and the sapwood is permeable.
USA: Readily available.
Export: Good availability as lumber and veneer. The
lumber is often classified according to growing regions
and marketed as Northern ash and Southern ash. It is
sometimes separated for color and sold as white ash
(sapwood) or brown ash (heartwood). Fraxinus nigra,
black ash, may also be sold as brown ash.
Furniture, flooring, doors, architectural interiors, high class joinery and molding, kitchen cabinets, paneling, tool handles, sports goods and turning.
