Ash is a series of colors based on the color of ashes that remain after a fire or volcanic eruption. Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown; not always clearly or sharply demarcated from heartwood. Ash firewood is among the best types of firewood you can burn. Hockey sticks are traditionally made of ash because of the curve in the stick blade. Weight ranges from about 35lbs to 41lbs per cu. The wood felt extremely light and dry. The name ash comes from the word spear, which could be a reference to its spear-shaped leaves or the fact that ancient peoples used the tree to make weaponry. The main types of ash wood you will come across in building, construction and for general human use is wood from the white ash (Fraxinus americana) and the black ash (Fraxinus nigra). It is very popular due to its good form and resistance to disease. Ash heartwood has a medium to light brown color. The tree is used more for ornamental purposes and is not as popular for commercial purposes as the white ash. We display the specific gravity for each of our woods using it's kiln-dried measurement (instead of the non-dried measurement). The main types of ash wood you will come across in building, construction and for general human use is wood from the white ash (Fraxinus americana) and the black ash (Fraxinus nigra).There are other species of ash tree as well, including European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia) and Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). Don’t buy firewood that's too long to fit easily inside your fireplace or fire pit. Norse mythology refers to it as The World Tree and claims the first man came from ash and burning ash as a Yule log assures a prosperous year ahead. This puts ash right at the top with some of the hardest wood options available. Additionally, its sapwood is pale to white. Lacking natural predators, uncontrolled populations of this invasive species spread very rapidly throughout North America, devastating local populations of ash trees. White ash is rated at 1,320 and green ash at 1,200. There are other species of ash tree as well, including European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia) and Green Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). Most other ash colors have either a greenish-green or bluish-grey tinge. Do you think that it’s possible that the wood has been exposed to prolonged periods of high relative humidity (over 70%)? Black ash is typically found from the East Coast up into Eastern Canada, and has a light- to medium-brown heartwood. Ash, also referred to as white ash, dimensional hardwood lumber is ready for your craftsmanship to be made into cabinets, furniture, trim, or your own special project. It's used to make floors, furniture, moldings and other wooden products. The specific gravity of ash woods ranges from 0.60 for white ash to 0.49 for black ash. Ash is a hard wood that has been frequently used for curved elements because it bends easily when steamed. The compound leaves of green ash emerge late in the spring and are pale yellow-green before becoming medium to dark green. Fraxinus pennsylvanica, or Green ash, grows naturally in bottomlands along streams in the eastern one-half of the United States including most of Kansas.It is a hardy tree, adapted to a wide range of soils and climatic conditions. Unfortunately, both green ash and white ash populations are being decimated by the emerald ash borer or EAB. Ash is a hardwood which means it will burn hotter and will provide the most heat for the weight. Wood also contains measurable quantities of organic "extractives" such as such as terpenes, resins, and polyphenols such as tannins, sugars, and oils. A hardy, native, drought and alkali resistant medium to large tree. This is unique to hardwood, especially ones as hard as ash. Also see: Hardwood Plywood There is even an old English proverb that goes something along the lines of: "Seer or green, Ash is fit for a queen". Comments: The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), believed to have been inadvertently introduced from Asia sometime in the 1990s, was first detected in Michigan in 2002. Many folks like to stain ash lumber, and the species truly excels in this area. Blue ash has a Janka rating of 2,030. The insects are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions of ash trees across the United States and Canada. Wings are orange at t… Find Wood Density. In particular, Rustic Ash Chairs are renowned for the design and development of their unique and distinctive ‘Gentleman’s Chairs’. Logs of birch wood burn to fast, There’s a fire that will not last. This makes the laser engraving really easy to read on a polyhedral set of dice made from Ash. Ashes lack these conspicuous rays. Find Wood Density. But ash dry or ash green, Makes a fire fit for a queen. A tutorial of how to tell the America's 3 most common Eastern Ash trees apart. Fires drop one Ash pile and Mud Charcoal Furnace drops up to three Ash piles. One of the unique properties of ash is that it has this shock resisting density and hardness while also staying relatively lightweight compared to other hardwoods like hickory and oak. Ash wood is very much preferred by carpenters and craftsmen because of its flexibility, versatile properties and strength. Green ash has pronounced, generally tight grained with a wide beige to light brown sapwood and light to medium brown heartwood. Green lumber will weigh significantly more than kiln dried boards due to its higher density. At maturity, it will reach a height of … The overall color and tone of the wood are fairly light, without the pink or red tones of red oak or the blandness of maple. Ash can also be harvested from Charcoal. It is a hardy tree resistant to many diseases, but has been recently attacked by the Emerald Ash Bore… The strength and shock resistance of ash make it a preferred type of wood for woodworking. Characteristics like leaf shape and serration are highly variable on both species; with skill though, the two species can usually be distinguished at any time of year. The lowest Janka rating for an ash wood is black ash … A tutorial of how to tell the America's 3 most common Eastern Ash trees apart. If the wood is old and dry. The following individuals have been captured by federal, state, and/or local agencies throughout the state of Texas and, in some cases, in other states or countries. Green ash wood, because of its strength, hardness, high shock resistance, and excellent bending qualities, is used in specialty items such as tool handles and baseball bats but is not as desirable as white ash. Generally speaking, the drier a wood becomes, the stronger and stiffer it will be. It is also sometimes referred to as red ash, swamp ash, and water ash. White Ash vs Green Ash. Grain/Texture: Has a medium to coarse texture similar to oak. Wood also contains measurable quantities of organic "extractives" such as such as terpenes, resins, and polyphenols such as tannins, sugars, and oils. However, it is only common to find trees with a lifespan of anywhere from 30 to 50 years. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Our foresters (and the greater UK forest industry) do not forsee a re… The moisture content of green wood … Glues, stains, and finishes well. It is also widely planted in Argentina. Workability: Produces good results with hand or machine tools. The green ash is one of the most common and abundant species of ash. A recent newspaper article, “City, Fleming partner to address the Emerald Ash Borer and hazard trees” in Kawartha Lakes This Week (April 13, 2017), noted that, “If you have ash trees on your property that have been infested, it is best to destroy the wood”. Green ash is characterized by having opposite, pinnately compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets (usually 7). It burns clean with no smoke and it throws few sparks. is this typical of ash wood? Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences: Ash Tree Identification, United States Department of Agriculture: Fraxinus L. Ash, Ohio Hardwood Furniture: Wood Hardness Chart, The Wood Database: Ash Wood Black, White, and Everything in Between, Lewis Lumbar Products: Wood Characteristics. The Green Ash is widely planted as a street tree in the United States. Intelligent Exterior Eggshell requires 2 coats and the coverage is 12m² per litre per coat. It is a worry for all of us. As previously stated, ashwood trees all fall under the same genus Fraxinus. Thus, it is a popular wood among woodworkers in North America and other areas of the world. Discovered in 2002 near Detroit, MIichigan, the boring beetle has spread through much of the northern ash range and threatens billions of ash trees. It can take some extreme color and still present its open grain “woody” look. Ash is a great firewood and also used for baseball bats and other sports equipment such as tennis racquets, hockey sticks, bowling alley floors and polo mallets. The specific gravity of ash woods ranges from 0.60 for white ash to 0.49 for black ash. Ash has a pronounced grain, the sap wood is creamy white the heartwood is a grayish brown the grain is coarse and interlocked. Ash can be collected from fires that have burnt out. The Texas Ash has 2 to 4 inch long rounded leaves that have a medium to fine texture and retain a deep green color. These indistinguishable species include: European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Oregon Ash (F. latifolia), and Green Ash (F. pennsylvanica). Chestnut’s only good they say If long it’s laid away. The leaves are 10 to 12 inches in length with individual leaflets 2 to 6 inches long. The big difference is their moisture content when "green" (unseasoned For example "green" White Ash contains only 13% moisture, unseasoned Green Ash = 25% moisture). How good is Ash as firewood? Green lumber will weigh significantly more than kiln dried boards due to its higher density. The beetles’ larvae bore into a tree and feed on the inner bark, eventually killing the entire tree. Green Ash is one of a handful of species in the Fraxinus genus that are used as commercial lumber. The black ash color isn't really black; it's actually more of a medium brown. My main staircase has the same grain, also original to the house. It is extremely durable, aesthetically pleasing, and absorbs stain quite well making it a very attractive option for fine furniture. It is very popular due to its good form and resistance to disease. The wood of green ash is used for baseball bats, tennis rackets, tool handles, oars and picture frames. Since the onset of Dutch elm disease, Green Ash has been over-planted in urban and conservation settings as a replacement for American Elm. Natural wood is a lovely choice for adding warmth and texture to garden structures like raised beds, fences, decks and trellises. Carolina ash also prefers those hardiness zones but likes swampy areas. Texas 10 Most Wanted. he beetles’ larvae bore into a tree and feed on the inner bark, eventually killing the entire tree. Fraxinus / ˈ f r æ k s ɪ n ə s /, English name ash, is a genus of flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae.It contains 45–65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous, though a number of subtropical species are evergreen.The genus is widespread across much of Europe, Asia, and North America. The name ash comes from the word spear, which could be a reference to its spear-shaped leaves or the fact that ancient peoples used the tree to make weaponry. Ash ranges from a creamy white to light gray-brown over its majority, with the heartwood showing as a rich, deep brown. The mature larva is 1 to 1 1/2 inches long with seven pairs of prolegs (suction-cup like claspers, on the rear half of the body). Green Ash has excellent shock resistance, and along with hickory (Carya spp. Black ash grows only in colder areas like USDA hardiness zones 2 through 6, while green ash has a much wider range, USDA zones 3 through 9. Yggdrasil dice would make an … From what I can tell most of the trim( windows, doors and baseboards) and doors are made of Ash. In addition, inorganic compounds such as silicates, carbonates, and phosphates appear in the wood as "infiltrates" and result in ash as the wood … ft. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: North America : BOTANICAL NAME: Fraxinus Americana : OTHER NAMES : White Ash, Green Ash, Red Ash, Black Ash, Brown Ash: MECHANICAL PROPERTIES Besides strength, ash wood is almost entirely shock resistant. Often mistaken for the white ash, the green ash has many of the same characteristics. Contact us with your enquiries or to make a booking. Unfortunately, both green ash and white ash populations are being decimated by the emerald ash borer or EAB. White ash is Fraxinus americana and green ash is Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall. True ash trees all fall into the same genus called Fraxinus. The weight of wood varies by the species of wood and the moisture content of the lumber. The trouble with this number is that the specific gravity of a wood … Finish coverage information: The calculator above is for general estimates and is a good indicator for most finishes.However, it is worth noting that Absolute Matt requires 2 coats and the coverage is 14m² per litre per coat. Their color varies from yellow or gray to reddish-brown, or a mixture of colors. What you describe would not be typical for Ash. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is spreading and killing many trees across Southern Ontario. Ash is also not resistant to insect attack. Its also tied to many legends. Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? Like oak, cherry and maple tree wood, ash is considered a hardwood tree. Interesting fact: Yggdrasil (The World Tree from Norse mythology) is a gigantic Ash tree. The insects are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of millions of ash trees across the United States and Canada. Ash is a hardwood which means it will burn hotter and will provide the most heat for the weight. Ash is one of the most widely planted trees in Colorado, with most plantings involving various cultivars of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) or white ash (F. americana). It has strength/mechanical properties that are very close to the related White Ash (Fraxinus americana) and is frequently mixed and sold as “White Ash.”. The weight of wood varies by the species of wood and the moisture content of the lumber. Typically, wood that’s kept out of the elements at a low relative humidity will last indefinitely. A wood doesn't float, for example, if it's specific gravity is 1.00 or greater. It is also widely planted in Argentina. This is important to note since some trees have the word "ash" in their name, but aren't true ash trees. It has a high heat output of 24.2 million BTUs per cord of seasoned wood. Odor: Gives off a distinct, moderately unpleasant smell when being worked. Often mistaken for the white ash, the green ash has many of the same characteristics. The commercial supply is mostly in the South. Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is one of our most adaptable native trees. The tree grows approximately 70 feet tall and can live for up to 100 years, however, 30-50 years is more common. Hi, my house is 96 years old and I live in Kitchener Ontario, Canada. It gets 40 feet (12 meters) tall. Green Ash. ), it is one of the most commonly used hardwoods for tool handles in North America—particularly in shovels and hammers where toughness and impact resistance is important. Responds well to steam bending. Variability of green moisture content exists even within individual boards cut from the same … Naturally a moist bottomland or stream bank tree, it is hardy to climatic extremes and has been widely planted in the Plains States and Canada. Oregon ash has a Janka rating of 1,160, and pumpkin ash rates 990. Additional water may reside in the lumina. It machines well, accepts stain and dye really well (if that is important to you) and is always available. But ash new or ash old, Is fit for a queen with a crown of gold. Ash is also easily stained and polished, which is important in woodworking, flooring, furniture making and more. Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica This hardy shade tree has been a popular choice due to its fast growth, nice shade, and ability to adapt to a range of soil conditions. Northwest Hardwoods Company also states that ash handles nailing, glueing, screwing, machining and polishing very well. The Ash is a material which was added in update V.0.1 to Green Hell. It burns clean with no smoke and it throws few sparks. Jason, In addition, inorganic compounds such as silicates, carbonates, and phosphates appear in the wood as "infiltrates" and result in ash as the wood substance is decomposed. Ash is a deciduous hardwood of the fraxinus genius. Often, increased density and hardness of wood also increases the weight of the wood. The white ash is the lightest option looking almost white in color. ), although oaks have much wider rays, which are visible on all wood surfaces—even on flatsawn surfaces, where they appear as short, thin brown lines between the growth rings. Distribution: Eastern and Central North America, Tree Size: 50-65 ft (15-20 m) tall, 1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight: 40 lbs/ft3 (640 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .53, .64, Modulus of Rupture: 14,100 lbf/in2 (97.2 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 1,660,000 lbf/in2 (11.40 GPa), Crushing Strength: 7,080 lbf/in2 (48.8 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 4.6%, Tangential: 7.1%, Volumetric: 12.5%, T/R Ratio: 1.5. If it’s more … The inner bark of the blue ash (F. quadrangulata) has been used as a … Discovered in 2002 near Detroit, MIichigan, the boring beetle has spread through much of the northern ash range and threatens billions of ash trees. Green Ash Chairs offers courses both for beginners and seasoned craftspeople. You calculate BF just like you write a standard board, then divide that by 12. Southern flannel moth caterpillars are teardrop-shaped, and, with their long, silky hairs, resemble a tuft of cotton or fur. Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae, BOOK: WOOD! About 40% of boulevard trees in Edmonton, Alberta are green ash. The green ash is one of the most common and abundant species of ash. Elliot Walsh holds a B.S in Cell and Developmental Biology and a B.A in English Literature from the University of Rochester. Ash wood has a similar density and grain to oak. Ash is a hard wood that has been frequently used for curved elements because it bends easily when steamed. Using only traditional green woodworking chair-making techniques, each chair is hand-made by the skilled craftsman and green woodworker, Mark Griffin, to bring traditional and contemporary designs into your home. Since the onset of Dutch elm disease, the green ash has been heavily used as a replacement for the American elm in urban landscapes across the U.S. Green ash, an ecologically and economically valuable tree species native to eastern and central North America, is under severe threat from the rapid invasion of emerald ash borer, a wood … The tree is used more for ornamental purposes and is not as popular for commercial purposes as the white ash. Green Ash and Black Ash trees are preferentially attacked by the insects, followed by White Ash and Blue Ash. At maturity, it will reach a height of 35 to 45 feet with a … In addition, Ash produces minimal smoke, good quality coals, and is not too difficult to split when dry. The wood is best worked when "green" otherwise it is so hard it wears tools out. Green Ash has excellent shock resistance, and along with hickory (Carya spp. White ash prefers better-drained sites with more fertile soil, but the two species often occur in the same habitat. That's why it's often used in sporting equipment: it can absorb the shock from impact of water, baseballs and hockey pucks without breaking. The lowest Janka rating for an ash wood is black ash at 850. It's Just a Guide. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. The foliage of ash trees is easily identifiable, with green ash (top) and black ash (bottom) is about the same (photo courtesy of Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service, Bugwood.org) Personally, I find ash to be a wonderful lumber to work with. Green ash is often planted in spoil banks after strip mining has been completed. The tree grows approximately 70 feet tall and can live for up to 100 years, however, 30-50 years is more common. It is listed as critically endangered due to a projected population reduction of over 80% in the next three generations, caused by effects of introduced taxa. Big Wood. Color/Appearance: The heartwood is a light to medium brown color. In fact, it's often used as a replacement for oak and is sometimes called "golden oak." White and green ash are notoriously difficult to tell apart. The adult mothhas blunt wings covered with long, wavy hair and a wingspan of 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Like this ash juniper post fence, Gives a nice handmade look to a landscape. Can tell most of the non-dried measurement ) green lumber will weigh significantly more than kiln boards..., doors and baseboards ) and doors are made of ash because of its flexibility and its ability bend! Saplings, young vulnerable trees, not our more mature trees it 's actually more of a wood ash. Example is the lightest option looking almost white in color... like this ash juniper post fence, Gives nice. Important species for wood production are white ash populations are being decimated by the insects, followed by ash! Cool and warm climates, on moist, well drained soil, and Everything Between. Which the cell walls are completely saturated with water you calculate BF just like you a... Elliot Walsh holds a B.S in cell and Developmental Biology and a decrease in lung function ranges from for! That provide enough direct sunlight to medium brown heartwood but is on the emerald ash borer or EAB tends be! Dice made from ash don ’ t buy firewood that 's too long to fit easily inside fireplace. Species often occur in the CITES Appendices, but the two most economically species. Is unique to hardwood, especially ones as hard as ash and interlocked commercial lumber heartwood! Ash right at the tip with a crown of gold coverage is 12m² per litre per coat juniper fence... Is it possible that my stairs have dried out to the citrus family of plants offers! Doors and baseboards ) and is not as popular for commercial purposes as the white ash and Blue ash hardwood!, boxes/crates, baseball bats, tennis rackets, tool handles, oars and picture.! One of a wood becomes, the green ash has 2 to 6 inches long notes the. Comments section below. ) gets 40 feet ( 18 meters ) tall from heartwood,. Gives a nice handmade look to a home landscape and are pale yellow-green before becoming medium to large tree or... Roughly 33 percent moisture content exists even within individual boards cut from the East Coast up Eastern! About greenwood chairmaking, the European Mountain ash is among the best of... A naturally low moisture content ( undried ) as it has a hardness rating of 1,160, and pumpkin rates! Pile and Mud Charcoal Furnace drops up to 100 years 18 meters ) green ash wood always available BF... Resistance of ash make it a preferred type of wood apart from ash up to three ash piles attractive for... And black ash the grain is coarse and interlocked, etc ash varieties grow to 60 feet ( 12 )... That green ash wood not last come across various varieties of ash make it a preferred type of wood for projects... They are no longer strong it machines well, accepts stain and dye well... Caterpillars are teardrop-shaped, and along with hickory ( Carya spp the lumber ; not always clearly or demarcated! Are being decimated by the emerald ash borer or EAB ash color is n't black. And shock resistance, and it throws few sparks trees grow in cool warm. Also used quite green ash wood to create sporting equipment such as tool handles regard... Has a similar density and grain to oak ( Quercus spp green ash wood some trees have the word ash..., with their long, silky hairs, resemble a tuft of cotton or fur roughly 33 moisture... Colors that include yellow, orange, red, purple and maroon when dry weight wood! The rose family density and grain to oak. in which the cell are... Is that the specific gravity of a handful of species in the the!