Black ash (Fraxinus nigra)
Family: Oleaceae
Common names: American black ash, Ash, Basket ash, Black ash, Brown ash, Fresno, Hoop ash, Swamp ash, Water ash
Distributed in: Canada, United States (North America)
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.
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
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.
Environment profile: Widespread
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isStraight, the textureMediumand the lusterNon-lustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles, Susceptible to insect attack
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: Shakes may become extended, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Moderately Difficult to Difficult
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: Satisfactory gluing properties
Mortising: Difficult to mortise
Nailing: Possible if prebored, Pre-boring recommended
Planing: Fair planing properties
Black ash is comparatively softer and easier to work than the other ashes.
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Easy to machine
Sanding: Sanding is fairly difficult
Veneering qualities: Moderately easy to veneer, No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Steam bending: Very good
Screwing: Possible if prebored
; Turning: Difficult to turn
Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Stains well
; Varnishing:
The natural gray-brown color of the wood is easily enhanced by a few coats of clear varnish.
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- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,43 |
0,47 |
|
Density |
|
544 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
455 |
780 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
25 |
51 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
328 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
119 |
109 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
98 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
85 |
109 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
7 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
624 |
528 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,77 |
0,91 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
206 |
351 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | 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 | | % | |
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
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 WoodsBoone, 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,TRADACanadian 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. LondonDave Faison. Into the Woods. Personal Communication, 1993.Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSOHMSO, 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 CuttingKaiser, 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.12Little, 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.479Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd EditionPanshin, 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,72USDA. 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.
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