Ash (likely White or Green Ash, showing characteristic emerald ash borer galleries)
Fraxinus americana / Fraxinus pennsylvanica · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern and Central North America
- Hardness
- 1,320 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Non-durable (susceptible to decay and readily attacked by insects such as the emerald ash borer visible here)
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Grain Pattern
Straight grain with distinct ring-porous structure visible on the cross-section
Color & Appearance
Light brown to creamy white sapwood with a slightly darker heartwood; currently weathered grey on the outer surfaces
Hardness (Janka)
1,320 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Non-durable (susceptible to decay and readily attacked by insects such as the emerald ash borer visible here)
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- 3.00 to 6.00 USD per board foot (though logs of this nature are often salvaged or used for firewood/turning due to borer damage)
- Wood Age Estimate
- Recently harvested green wood, roughly estimated at 30 to 50 years based on ring count visibility
- Sustainability Status
- Severely threatened across North America due to the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), leading to widespread mortality
Common Uses
Tool handles, baseball bats, furniture, flooring, cabinet framing, firewood
Geographic Origin
Eastern and Central North America
Workability
Excellent workability; turns, glues, finishes, and bends exceptionally well with steam, though care is needed to avoid tearout on flat-sawn surfaces
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains, dyes, varnishes, and oils very well; water-based or solvent-based polyurethanes provide durable protection
Notable Features
The most prominent feature of this specific log is the extensive larval gallery network (often called 'wormy' or borer-tracked ash) carved by the emerald ash borer under the bark
