White Ash
Fraxinus americana
Hardness
Hard and durable; stands up to wear and traffic.
Overview
Strong, shock-resistant, and springy, the baseball-bat wood. Looks like oak but lighter in tone. Threatened by the emerald ash borer.
Commonly built
- Baseball bats
- Hammer & axe handles
- Hockey sticks
- Steam-bent chair backs
- Canoe paddles
Appearance
Light cream to pale brown with a bold straight grain.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Excellent shock resistance and bends well with steam. Open grain like oak, fill for smooth finishes. Generally machines cleanly.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn white ash panel moves roughly 0.43 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does White Ash move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is White Ash?
White Ash has a Janka hardness of 1320 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is White Ash suitable for outdoor use?
White Ash is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is White Ash to work with?
White Ash has Good workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does White Ash move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn white ash panel moves roughly 0.43 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Open, ring-porous grain much like oak; takes stain evenly and benefits from grain filler for a smooth film finish. Pale color takes both light natural finishes and darker stains well. No blotching concerns. A good candidate for a filled-and-lacquered smooth finish or an open-grain oiled look.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used white ash, reviewed before they appear here.
Loading…
Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.