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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Fraxinus mandshurica Trade Name Japanese ash Family Name Oleaceae Common Names Japanese ash, Tamo Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Japan Common Uses Cabinetmaking, Decorative veneer, Door, Flooring, Furniture , Paneling , Plywood, Skis, Sporting Goods, Veneer Environmental Profile Vulnerable throughout its natural growth range Numbers are decreasing May soon become Endangered if over-exploitation and habitat destruction persists Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview South East Asia and in the mountains of Japan (usually in the river valleys). Heartwood Color Yellow White Red Orange Brown Light brown Dark cream Considered to be a light-colored hardwood Grain Even Closed Straight Wavy May be wavy or curly Generally straight, but not always Typically straight, but may be curly or wavy, producing an attractive but unusual pattern called peanut figure. Wavy-grained wood is called Tamo, while Japanese ash is usually reserved for wood with straight grain. The tree produces logs that can be half figured and half plain. Loggers split the wood, examine and select the more valuable figured material to bring to market. Figured wood is very popular and varies in pattern from a peanut figure to a leaf figure Texture Fine Coarse Natural Durability Perishable Moderately durable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Distortion Ease of Drying Little degrade if dried properly Dries at a fairly rapid rate Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources Trees are not easily accessible since they grow on mountainous terrain in Japan. Felled trees are sometimes carried or dragged over rough terrain. Despite this, Japanese ash is regularly exported to the US market, although in small quantities. The attractive Tamo veneer is rare and is priced in the valuable range when available. It is highly favored by furniture designers who like to feature exotic patterns in their work. Blunting Effect Cuting edges are dulled moderately Gluing Good gluing properties Movement in Service Medium Nailing Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Machines well with ordinary tools Cutting edges must be sharpened frequently Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood absorbs presevatives well Heartwood is fairly difficult to treat Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Veneering Qualities Selected logs are converted into exceptionally high quality veneers that usually exhibit mottle, fiddleback, swirl, burrs, and the unique peanut patterns Steam Bending Very good Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Takes a high finish Staining Satisfactory staining qualities Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Strength to weight ratio is high, but Japanese ash is low in toughness, compared to European ash. Stiffness is rated as low, while crushing strength and resistance to shock loads are medium. It is heavy. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 0.63 Weight 41 34. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Specific Gravity 0.63 References HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Kaiser, J. 1989. Wood of the Month. Japanese ash: The Tree with a Split Personality. Wood & Wood Products, January 1989. Page 46. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.