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Ash

The following information is posted with permission of Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA) and is taken from their red booklets Timbers of the World. © TRADA

ASH, EUROPEAN

Fraxinus excelsior L. Family: Oleaceae

Other names:
English, French, Polish, Slavonian etc ash, according to origin.

Distribution:
Europe including the British Isles, north Africa and western Asia, growing best on loamy soils where both the soil and the atmosphere is moist and cool.

The tree:
A tall, graceful tree, reaching a height of 30m to 42m on good sites, with a clear bole averaging 9m in length, and occasionally more. The diameter varies from 0.5m to 1.5m.

The timber:
There is usually no distinction in colour between sapwood and heartwood, freshly cut wood being whitish to pale brown with a pink cast, turning to a slightly brownish-white after drying. In some logs, an irregular dark brown or black heartwood is found, but this is not necessarily a defect, as the timber is normally quite sound. Logs containing dark heart streaks are often enhanced in value because of the decorative nature of the wood which is known as olive ash.

European ash is typically straight grained, and this, combined with its toughness and flexibility, makes it one of the world s most valuable timbers for such uses as sports goods and striking tool handles. It is rather coarse textured, and varies somewhat in weight according to the growth conditions, from 528 kg/rn3 to 816kg/rn3 when dried, but averaging 710 kg/rn3.

Drying:
Dries at a fairly rapid rate without excessive surface checking and spltting, but under the influence of severe temperatures, there is a tendency to distort and for end splitting to occur. Distorted stock responds well to reconditioning kil treatment.

Strength:
Similar to oak in general strength properties. but tougher and more resistant to splitting.

Durability:
Perishable.

Working qualities:
Although tough, ash works and machines quite well, and finishes to a reasonably smooth finish. It can be glued, stained, and polished.

Uses:
One of the best bending woods, ash is used extensively in furniture and chair making. It is used for agricultural implements, vehicle bodies, wheelwright s work, plywood and decorative veneer, and for sports goods such as tennis racquets, hockey sticks, polo heads, and gymnasium equipment. and for tool and axe handles. The demand for so-called sports ash generally exceeds supply from a given area, and accordingly. it is not unusual for a relatively wide search to be made in order to locate suitable parcels.