Ash
Ash (Fraxinus sp.) is
composed of 40 to 70 species, with 21 in Central and North America and 50
species in Eurasia. All species look alike microscopically. The name
fraxinus is the classical Latin name for ash.
Species
- Fraxinus americana*- American
White Ash, Biltmore Ash, Biltmore White Ash, Canadian Ash, Cane Ash, Green
Ash, Ground Ash, Mountain Ash, Quebec Ash, Red Ash, Smallseed White Ash, White
Ash, White River Ash, White Southern Ash
- Fraxinus anomala-Dwarf Ash, Singleleaf
Ash
- Fraxinus berlandierana-Berlandier
Ash, Mexican Ash
- Fraxinus caroliniana-Carolina
Ash, Florida Ash, Pop Ash, Swamp Ash, Water Ash
- Fraxinus cuspidata-Flowering Ash,
Fragrant Ash
- Fraxinus dipetala-California
Flwoering Ash, California Shrub Ash, Foothill Ash, Flowering Ash,
Fringe-flowering Ash, Mountain Ash, Two-petal Ash
- Fraxinus gooddingii-Goodding
Ash
- Fraxinus greggii?-Dogleg
Ash, Gregg Ash, Littleleaf Ash
- Fraxinus latifolia*-Basket Ash, Oregon
Ash, Water Ash, White Ash
- Fraxinus nigra*-American Black
Ash, Basket Ash, Black Ash, Brown Ash, Canadian Ash, Hoop Ash,
Splinter Ash, Swamp Ash, Water Ash
- Fraxinus papillosa-Chihuahua
Ash
- Fraxinus pennsylvanica*-Bastard
Ash, Black Ash, Blue Ash, Brown Ash, Canadian Ash, Darlington Ash, Gray
Ash, Green Ash, Piss Ash, Pumpkin Ash, Red Ash, Rim Ash, River Ash,
Soft Ash,?Swamp Ash, Water Ash, White Ash
- Fraxinus profunda*-Pumpkin Ash,
Red Ash
- Fraxinus quadrangulata*-Blue
Ash, Virginia Ash
- Fraxinus texensis-Texas Ash
- Fraxinus velutina-Arizona Ash,
Desert Ash, Leatherleaf Ash, Modesto Ash, Smooth Ash, Toumey Ash, Velvet
Ash
(* commercial species)
Distribution
The north temperate regions of the
globe.
The Tree
Ashes are trees or shrubs with large,
opposite, pinnately compound leaves, which are shed in the fall. The
compound leaves have 2 to 11 leaflets. The flowers can be bisexual or
there can be distinct male and female flowers on separate trees. The
flowers have no petals and the fruits are dry with a flattened wing.
The Wood
General
The sapwood of ash is light brown, while
the heartwood is brown to grayish brown. White as and Oregon ash have
lighter heartwood than the other commercial species. The width of the
sapwood is 3 to 6 inches. It is ring porous, with the latewood being
composed of parenchyma which surrounds and unites the latewood pores in
tangential bands. It has no characteristic odor or taste.
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Mechanical Properties (2-inch
standard)
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Compression |
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Specific
gravity
|
MOE
X106 lbf/in2
|
MOR
lbf/in2
|
Parallel
lbf/in2
|
Perpendicular
lbf/in2
|
WMLa
in-lbf/in3
|
Hardness
lbf
|
Shear
lbf/in2
|
| F.
americana (white ash) |
| Green |
0.55 |
1.44 |
9,600 |
3,990 |
670 |
15.7 |
960 |
1,350 |
| Dry |
0.60 |
1.74 |
15,000 |
7,410 |
1,160 |
16.6 |
1,320 |
1,910 |
| F.latifolia
(Oregon ash) |
| Green |
0.50 |
1.13 |
7,600 |
3,510 |
530 |
12.2 |
790 |
1,190 |
| Dry |
0.55 |
1.36 |
12,700 |
6,040 |
1,250 |
14.4 |
1,160 |
1,790 |
| F.
nigra (black ash) |
| Green |
0.45 |
1.04 |
6,000 |
2,300 |
350 |
12.1 |
520 |
860 |
| Dry |
0.49 |
1.60 |
12,600 |
5,970 |
760 |
14.9 |
850 |
1,570 |
| F.
pennsylvanica (green
ash) |
| Green |
0.53 |
1.40 |
9,500 |
4,200 |
730 |
11.8 |
870 |
1,260 |
| Dry |
0.56 |
1.66 |
14,100 |
7,080 |
1,310 |
14.9 |
1,200 |
1,910 |
| F.
profunda (pumpkin ash) |
| Green |
0.48 |
1.04 |
7,600 |
3,360 |
990 |
9.4 |
750 |
1,210 |
| Dry |
0.52 |
1.27 |
11,100 |
5,690 |
1,800 |
8.0 |
990 |
1,720 |
| F.
quadrangulata (blue
ash) |
| Green |
0.53 |
1.24 |
9,600 |
4,180 |
810 |
14.7 |
1,030 |
1,540 |
| Dry |
0.58 |
1.40 |
13,800 |
6,980 |
1,420 |
14.4 |
2,030 |
2,030 |
aWML
= Work to maximum load.
bReference (98).
cReference (59).
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Kiln Drying Schedulea
|
Stock |
| Condition |
4/4,
5/4, 6/4 |
8/4 |
10/4 |
12/4 |
16/4 |
| Standard |
T8-D4 |
T5-B3 |
T5-B3 |
T3-B2 |
T3-A1 |
| aReferences
(6, 86). |
|
Drying and Shrinkage
| Type
of shrinkage |
Percentage
of shrinkage
(green to final moisture content) |
| 0%
MC |
6%
MC |
20%
MC |
| F.
americana (white ash) |
| Tangential |
7.8 |
6.2 |
2.6 |
| Radial |
4.9 |
3.8 |
1.6 |
| Volumetric |
13.3 |
10.7 |
4.5 |
| F.latifolia
(Oregon ash) |
| Tangential |
8.1 |
- |
- |
| Radial |
4.1 |
- |
- |
| Volumetric |
13.2 |
- |
- |
| F.
nigra (black ash) |
| Tangential |
7.8 |
6.2 |
2.6 |
| Radial |
5.0 |
4.0 |
1.7 |
| Volumetric |
15.2 |
12.2 |
5.1 |
| F.
pennsylvanica (green
ash) |
| Tangential |
7.1 |
5.7 |
2.4 |
| Radial |
4.6 |
3.7 |
1.5 |
| Volumetric |
12.5 |
10.0 |
4.2 |
| F.
profunda (pumpkin ash) |
| Tangential |
6.3 |
- |
- |
| Radial |
3.7 |
- |
- |
| Volumetric |
12.0 |
- |
- |
| F.
quadrangulata (blue
ash) |
| Tangential |
6.5 |
- |
- |
| Radial |
3.9 |
- |
- |
| Volumetric |
11.7 |
- |
- |
References:
0% MC (98),
6% and 20% MC (90). |
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Working Properties:
Ash is straight grained, heavy,
hard, strong, stiff and wears smooth with high shock resistance. It
machines well and is better than average in nail and screw holding
capacity. It glues moderately well. Black, green, Pumpkin and Blue ashes
have lower specific gravities and lower strength properties, but are still
moderately strong, hard, and stiff compared to other native hardwoods.
They also split easier, shrink more, are average in workability and
perform less well in service.
Durability:
Classed as slightly to non-resistant to heartwood decay.
Preservation:
No information available at this time.
Uses:
Handle stock, baseball bats, unupholstered furniture, flooring, millwork,
hand tools, sporting goods, boxes and crates.
Toxicity:
No information available at this time.
Source: US Forest Service
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