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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 Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Fraxinus nigra Trade Name Black ash Family Name Oleaceae Common Names American black ash, Ash, Basket ash, Black ash, Brown ash, Fresno, Hoop ash, Swamp ash, Water ash Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Baseball bats, Baskets, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Hockey sticks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Oars, Office furniture, Paddles, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Skis, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Tables, Tool handles, Trimming, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Widespread May be rare in some parts of its range Globally secure Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Black ash ranges from western Newfoundland west to southeastern Manitoba and eastern North Dakota; south to Iowa; east to southern Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia; and north from northern Virginia to Delaware and New Jersey. Since it is a swamp species, it grows naturally in wet places. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Green/grey Orange Red Dark brown Brown Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange The brown color is typically darker than in other ashes. Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Light brown Different than heartwood The narrow sapwood is described as whitish to light brown in color. Grain Figure Even Burrs (figure) Distinct (figure) Growth rings (figure) Straight Figure shows burrs Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) Straight Tangential cut boards are reported to exhibit a very distinct figure because of the closely spaced annual rings. Black ash also sometimes exhibit a cluster of eyes, which are occasionally scattered. The wood also produces burls of high quality Texture Medium Fine Coarse Coarse Black ash is substantially lighter in weight, and is generally 10 to 12 percent less dense than White ash. Luster Medium Low Non-lustrous Dull Natural Durability Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Moderately durable Non-durable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack by fungi Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood susceptible to attack by common furniture beetles Little natural resistance Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules T8-D4 (4/4), T5-D3 (8/4) US/T8-D4 (4/4), T5-D3 (8/4) US Drying Defects Splitting Shakes may become extended End splitting Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Black ash dries easily with minimum defects, although it is often higher in stump moisture content than other ashes. Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m The mature tree is normally 30 to 50 feet (9 to 15 m) in height. Black ash under favorable conditions can attain heights of 90 feet (27 m). Trunk diameters are reported to rarely exceed 24 inches (60 cm) Product Sources Although the growth range of Black ash is less extensive than that of White or Green ash, it bes available in adequate supplies. It be often mixed and sold with other ashes under the trade name Ash, and is harder to find through normal retail channels. Price be in the same range as other ash species, moderate to low. Substitutes Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is similar in appearance. Comments Black ash is described as a very nice cabinet wood. Although it is softer than the other ashes, it still has enough qualities to allow its use chairs, tables, and other heavily used furniture. White ash is a better selection for applications where strength is important, such as for axe handles. Resistance to abrasion is also rather low in Black ash since the porous earlywood tends to break down or wear away quickly. General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory gluing properties Moderate gluing properties Easy to glue Mortising Difficult to mortise Movement in Service Stable Small Properly seasoned wood is dimensionally stable, and shows only small movement in normal use. Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-boring recommended Possible if prebored Holds nails well Planing Fair planing properties Black ash is comparatively softer and easier to work than the other ashes. Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Sanding Sanding is fairly difficult Screwing Possible if prebored Turning Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Very good Good Black ash is one of the best woods for steam bending. Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Stains well Varnishing The natural gray-brown color of the wood is easily enhanced by a few coats of clear varnish. Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6480 11106 psi Crushing Strength 368 735 psi Density 34 lbs/ft3 Hardness 724 lbs Impact Strength 47 43 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2465 4986 psi Shearing Strength 1408 psi Static Bending 2940 4998 psi Stiffness 1217 1552 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 11 13 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.43 0.47 Weight 39 33 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 14 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 455 780 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 25 51 kg/cm2 Density 544 kg/m3 Hardness 328 kg Impact Strength 119 109 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 173 350 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 98 kg/cm2 Static Bending 206 351 kg/cm2 Stiffness 85 109 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.77 0.91 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.43 0.47 Weight 624 528 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Arno, J. 1989. Fraxinus nigra - Black ash. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. Page 163. Betts, H.S.,1945,American Woods - Ash,USDA, Forest Service American Woods Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Dave Faison. Into the Woods. Personal Communication, 1993. Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO 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. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Kaiser, J. 1987. Wood of the Month:Ash - A Big Leaguer's Choice. Wood & Wood Products, September, 1987. Page 40. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.