Ash, American

American ash is the trade name for a number of sub species of ash that grow throughout the eastern USA. It is a versatile and attractive hardwood with good strength properties.

Other Names

Northern Ash, Southern Ash, White Ash, American White Ash, Brown Ash

Botanical Name

Fraxinus spp.

Common Form
Sawn
  • Overview

    • American ash is the trade name for a variety of sub species of ash that are grown in the eastern parts of the USA. It is similar in appearance to European ash, with very pale sapwood and heartwood that varies from a greyish brown to light brown, or a pale yellow with brown streaks. The timber or veneer from the American ash is sometimes sold based on colour, with White Ash referring to the sapwood and brown ash referring to the heartwood. It is available in a wide range of grades and specifications.

    American ash has good strength properties and is usually straight-grained with a uniform texture. The timber has good hardness and steam bends well; it also machines well and is an excellent timber for woodturning. Overall, American ash is easily worked, responding well to nailing, screwing and gluing. It can also be polished to a very high finish. The heartwood is not resistant to decay and is moderately resistant to preservative treatment, limiting the timber to interior applications. The sapwood, however, is permeable.

    Common applications for American ash include furniture, flooring, doors, architectural interiors, high-end joinery and mouldings, cabinetry, paneling in the form of veneers, tool handles, sports goods and turnings. It is also becoming popular in the construction of electric guitars. It is an attractive and versatile timber for a vast range of interior applications.

    American ash is readily available in the eastern USA, where the various sub species grow. It is available in Australia from specialist timber suppliers as both sawn timber and veneer.

     

    Shrinkage

    Very Low Low Medium High Very High
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    Tangential : Provides a simplified rating for tangential shrinkage. This is the measure of the percentage reduction in dimension from the unseasoned to 12% moisture content condition.
    3.20%

    Radial : Radial shrinkage is perpendicular to the growth rings. It is shrinkage in the direction towards the centre of the tree. Measurement is % value
    2.00%

    Unit Movement Tangential: This is the percentage of dimensional change for each 1% moisture content change between about 3% moisture content and the fibre saturation point for the particular species.
    0.27%

    Unit Movement Radial: This is the percentage of dimensional change for each 1% moisture content change between about 3% moisture content and the fibre saturation point for the particular species.
    0.17%

    Strength Group Strength groups are given for unseasoned (S1-S7) and seasoned (SD1-SD8) timber in accordance with AS 2878. S1 and SD1 yield the highest strength and stiffness whereas S7 and SD8 yield the lowest.

    Very High

    High

    Reasonably High

    Medium High

    Medium

    Reasonably Low

    Low

    Very Low

    Unseasoned:

    S1

    S2

    S3

    S4

    S5

    S6

    S7

    S8
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    Seasoned:

    SD1

    SD2

    SD3

    SD4

    SD5

    SD6

    SD7

    SD8
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    Stress Grade A stress grade is defined in AS 1720 as the classification of timber for structural purposes by means of either visual or machine grading. The stress grade indicates the basic working stresses and stiffnesses to be used for structural design purposes. Measured in MPa.

    Structural
    No. 1    		 Structural
    No. 2    		 Structural
    No. 3    		 Structural
    No. 4    		 Structural
    No. 5

    Unseasoned:

    F8

    F7

    F5

    F4

    Seasoned:

    F14

    F11

    F8

    F7

    F5

    Density per Standard Seasoned density is based on moisture content of 12%. Unseasoned density is an approximation as it depends on the moisture content at the time of measurement. Measured kg/m3.

    Seasoned:

    690kg/m3

    Unseasoned:

    800kg/m3

    Joint Group The joint group is a classification of the strength of a species in joint design. The values are from 1 (very high strength) to 6 (very low strength).

    Very High

    High

    Reasonably High

    Medium

    Low

    Very Low

    Unseasoned:

    J1

    J2

    J3

    J4

    J5

    J6

    Seasoned:

    JD1

    JD2

    JD3

    JD4

    JD5

    JD6
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    Colour The colour of seasoned heartwood can vary between species and often within a species. The information provided should be used as a general guide only. In most cases, the colour of sapwood is either a lighter shade of the heartwood or a white/cream colour.

      White, yellow, pale straw to light brown Pink to pink brown Light to dark red Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky
       
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    Mechanical Properties

    Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: This property is a measure of maximum stress which timber can momentarily sustain when loaded slowly and continuously as a beam. Measured in MPa.
    66

    Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: This property is a measure of maximum stress which timber can momentarily sustain when loaded slowly and continuously as a beam. Measured in MPa.
    103

    Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: This property is of importance in determining the deflection of a beam under load — the greater the stiffness, the less the deflection. Measured in GPa.
    9.9

    Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: This property is of importance in determining the deflection of a beam under load — the greater the stiffness, the less the deflection. Measured in GPa.
    12

    Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned:

    Also referred to as compression strength. This property measures the ability of the timber to withstand loads applied on the end grain. Measured in MPa.
    27.5

    Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: Also referred to as compression strength. This property measures the ability of the timber to withstand loads applied on the end grain. Measured in MPa.
    51

    Impact - Unseasoned: Provides the Izod value, which is the energy taken in joules (J) to fracture the timber.

    Impact - Seasoned: Provides the Izod value, which is the energy taken in joules (J) to fracture the timber.

    Toughness - Unseasoned: This is a measure of timber’s ability to resist shocks and blows, and is synonymous with impact strength. It is measured in Nm.

    Toughness - Seasoned: This is a measure of timber’s ability to resist shocks and blows, and is synonymous with impact strength. It is measured in Nm.

    Hardness - Unseasoned: Refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of timber’s resistance to indentation.
    4.3

    Hardness - Seasoned: Refers to the Janka hardness test and is a measure of timber’s resistance to indentation.
    5.9

    Durability

    Low Moderate Reasonably High High
    (0 - 5 yrs) (5 - 15 yrs) (15 - 25 yrs) (more than 25 yrs)

    In-Ground: Durability is defined as the inherent resistance of a timber species to decay, or to insect or marine borer attack. All references to durability refer to the heartwood only. A scale of low to high (durability class 4 = low; 1 = high) has been adapted for above and in-ground durability.

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    (0 - 7 yrs) (7 - 15 yrs) (15 - 40 yrs) (More than 40 yrs)

    Above ground: Durability is defined as the inherent resistance of a timber species to decay, or to insect or marine borer attack. All references to durability refer to the heartwood only. A scale of low to high (durability class 4 = low; 1 = high) has been adapted for above and in-ground durability.

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    (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) (21 - 40 yrs) (41 - 64 yrs) (More than 60 yrs)

    Marine Borer Resistance: Indicates whether a species is resistant (R) or not resistant (NR) to marine borer attack.

    Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: Indicates whether a species is susceptible (S) or not susceptible (NS) to lyctid borer attack.

    Susceptible

    Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other:

    Termite Resistance: Indicates whether a species is resistant (R) or not resistant (NR) to termites.

    Not Resistant

    Fire Properties

    Appearance

    American ash varies in appearance according to the sub species from which the timber or veneer is sourced. Sapwood is generally pale to almost white; heartwood ranges from greyish brown to light brown, to pale yellow with brown streaks. It is sometimes sold separately according to sapwood colour as white ash, or heartwood colour as brown ash. It is a straight-grained wood with a coarse but uniform texture. Common to the species are light brown flecks or mineral streaks but these are not considered to be defects and are treated as a natural characteristic of the timber.

    Common Applications

    American ash is a popular and versatile timber used in a vast range of interior applications, such as flooring, furniture, joinery and cabinetry, mouldings, panelling, sports equipment and turning. Available as a proprietary thermally modified timber, suitable for external cladding and decking. It is also becoming popular in the construction of solid-bodied electric guitars.

    Workability

    American ash is highly workable, responding well to steam bending, nailing, gluing, sawing, carving, moulding, etc. It is an excellent woodturning timber and polishes to a high finish.

     

     

    Origin of timber
    North America
    Readily Available
    NSW
    American ash is readily available in Australia from specialist timber suppliers.
    Source of timber
    Native Forest
    a close-up of a wood sculpture

    Mouldings

    Mouldings are extremely versatile and durable, enhancing the aesthetics of any interior and functioning as the icing on the cake for designs with a focus on beauty and splendour.

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