Ash is one of our hardest and strongest woods.
The wood has a coarse grain pattern, much like oak. The wide sapwood
is white and the heartwood is light brown, often somewhat variegated.
Because of its toughness and willingness to bend easily, it was often used
for athletic equipment such as rackets. It is also used for ball bats
and long handle stock for items such as forks and shovels. The wood
is also used for furniture, flooring and paneling. It is relatively
inexpensive and a good substitute for oak.
There are several different species of ash. White ash is the preferred
species because it tends to grow fast and it is a good timber tree.
Black ash, common in the Lake States, has a wide brown heartwood, often of
lower quality. This species is often sold separately as brown ash.
Ash can sometimes be curly.
