White Ash
Fraxinus americana
White Ash is one of America's most important hardwoods, renowned for its exceptional shock resistance, flexibility, and strength. This versatile wood has long been the standard for baseball bats, tool handles, and sporting goods. Its attractive light-colored grain, excellent workability, and steam-bending properties make it equally valuable for furniture, flooring, and architectural millwork. Note: Ash populations face threat from the Emerald Ash Borer, affecting future availability.
Janka Hardness
1320 lbf
Hard
Density
42 lbs/ft³
Medium
Shrinkage
Moderate (7.8% tangential, 4.9% radial)
Moderate
Appearance
Color: Light tan to medium brown heartwood with nearly white sapwood. Clean, light appearance.
Grain: Straight grain with coarse, ring-porous texture. Pronounced grain pattern similar to oak.
Key Characteristics
- •Exceptional shock resistance
- •Excellent for steam bending
- •Strong and elastic
- •Clean light coloration
- •Good workability
- •Pronounced attractive grain
Common Applications
Maintenance
Interior use recommended. Finish enhances grain pattern. Moderate durability for indoor applications. Not naturally durable outdoors.
Advantages
- +Excellent shock resistance and flexibility
- +Great for steam bending
- +Beautiful pronounced grain
- +Good value for the quality
- +Very strong for its weight
- +Excellent workability
Considerations
- •Threatened by Emerald Ash Borer
- •Not naturally durable outdoors
- •Can be coarse-textured
- •Availability decreasing due to EAB
- •Open pores require grain filler for smooth finish
- •Color can be variable