White Ash
Fraxinus americana · Hardwood
- Type
- Hardwood
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- Hardness
- 1,320 lbf (Hard)
- Durability
- Perishable to moderately durable; susceptible to insect attack and decay when in contact with the ground.
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
Grain Pattern
Straight grain with a pronounced ring-porous texture and a flat-sawn to slightly rift-sawn face figure showing distinct growth rings.
Color & Appearance
Light to medium brown heartwood with a nearly white sapwood that can be quite wide; moderate natural luster with minimal initial color variation, tending to yellow slightly with age.
Hardness (Janka)
1,320 lbf (Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Perishable to moderately durable; susceptible to insect attack and decay when in contact with the ground.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $3.00 to $6.00 per board foot for standard domestic lumber grades.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Estimated to be relatively freshly milled or recently processed stock, showing little to no significant patina or aging.
- Sustainability Status
- Severely impacted and threatened throughout much of its native North American range due to the invasive emerald ash borer; listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered.
Common Uses
Tool handles, baseball bats, furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and bentwood items.
Geographic Origin
Eastern North America
Workability
Generally works very well with both hand and machine tools, turns and glues well, and steam bends exceptionally well, though it can occasionally tear out during planing if grain is irregular.
Finish Recommendations
Takes stains, dyes, and clears (such as polyurethane, lacquer, or oil finishes) very well, though grain filler may be desired for a perfectly smooth, glass-like finish due to open pores.
Notable Features
High shock resistance, excellent strength-to-weight ratio, and distinct ring-porous open grain structure.
