Ash, American
Latin name: Fraxinus spp, Fraxinus nigra, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Fraxinus americana
Also known as: American Ash (America), black ash (Fraxinus nigra), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), white ash, Canadian ash (Fraxinus americana), brown ash (Fraxinus nigra), red ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Wood Type:
Hardwood
Durability:
Not durable
Treatability:
Easy
Moisture Movement:
Medium
Density (mean, Kg/m³):
670 (Density can vary by 20% or more)
Texture:
Coarse
Availability:
Readily available at timber merchant
Price:
Medium
Use(s):
Tool handles, Joinery - Interior
Colour(s):
Grey (Brown)
Introduction
The natural order Oleaceae includes a number of species of the genus Fraxinus or ash, whose timber is characterised by good strength elasticity, toughness, stiffness and hardness, allied to relatively light weight. The following are the principal species found in North America:
- Black ash Fraxinus nigra
- Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica
- White ash Fraxinus americana
Environmental
Not listed in CITES. Believed available from well-managed sources. Check certification status with suppliers.
Distribution
Black ash
An eastern species. It occurs mainly from the Gulf of the St Lawrence to Manitoba.
Green ash
Found in fairly limited quantities from south-eastern Quebec throughout southern Ontario to eastern Saskatchewan and also in the southern states of America to the Mississippi River.
White ash
Occurs in Canada from Nova Scotia to south-western Ontario, and in America from New England, the Middle Atlantic and Central States.
The tree
Black ash
A slender, medium sized tree reaching a height of 18m to 21 m growing in swamps and by rivers.
Green ash
A small tree, some 12m to 15m in height.
White ash
The tree reaches a height of 15m to 18m or a little more, and a diameter of about 0.75m.
The timber
Black ash
The timber is greyish-brown to brown in colour, darker than that of white ash, (F. americana) and inferior to that timber in general strength properties and lighter in weight, about 560 kg/m³ when dried. A certain amount of this species is used for interior trim and fittings It takes a good finish.
Green ash
Produces timber similar to American white ash in appearance, but inferior to that timber in hardness, strength and toughness. It weighs about the same as white ash, about 670 kg/m³ when dried and is used for similar purposes as white ash, except for striking tool handles.
White ash
The sapwood is almost white in colour and the heartwood varies from light brown to reddish-brown rather similar to European ash. but a little lighter in weight, about 670 kg/m³ when dried.
Drying
Dries with little distortion.
Suppliers |
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A C Timber Solutions LtdEly |
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Burton, E O & Co LimitedBrentwood |
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Chadwicks (Mowbray Drive) LimitedBlackpool |
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Champion, A W LimitedNew Malden |
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Cranwood IndustriesWarrenpoint |
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Enfield Speciality DoorsEnfield |
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Fleming BuildbaseAberdeen |
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Gilmour & Aitken LimitedAlexandria |
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International TimberManchester |
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iWood Timber LtdStafford |
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James Latham plcHemel Hempstead |
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Mid-Sussex Timber Co LimitedForest Row |
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Morgan TimberRochester |
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NHG Timber LimitedCroydon |
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Quinn Hardwoods LtdDublin |
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Thorogood Timber LimitedColchester |
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Timber & Plywood Services LtdPaisley |
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TimbmetStanford In The Vale |
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W. L. West & Sons LtdPetworth |
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Watford Timber Co LimitedWatford |
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Suppliers |
|
---|---|
Watford Timber Co LimitedWatford |
|
W. L. West & Sons LtdPetworth |
|
TimbmetStanford In The Vale |
|
Timber & Plywood Services LtdPaisley |
|
Thorogood Timber LimitedColchester |
|
Quinn Hardwoods LtdDublin |
|
NHG Timber LimitedCroydon |
|
Morgan TimberRochester |
|
Mid-Sussex Timber Co LimitedForest Row |
|
James Latham plcHemel Hempstead |
|
iWood Timber LtdStafford |
|
International TimberManchester |
|
Gilmour & Aitken LimitedAlexandria |
|
Fleming BuildbaseAberdeen |
|
Enfield Speciality DoorsEnfield |
|
Cranwood IndustriesWarrenpoint |
|
Champion, A W LimitedNew Malden |
|
Chadwicks (Mowbray Drive) LimitedBlackpool |
|
Burton, E O & Co LimitedBrentwood |
|
A C Timber Solutions LtdEly |
|