With the variety of domestic hardwoods available today, it?€™s difficult to choose the one that?€˜s best for you. Let?€™s say, for example, you are looking for the finest wood to use for sporting goods and athletic equipment. In this case, your best option is Ash wood.
Ash (also referred to as Fraxinus Americana) is the wood principally used for baseball bats, boat oars, and pool cues. It is also used for shovel and tool handles, ladders, boat building, and furniture. Ash wood is a great choice for these projects because it has great bending strength, toughness, stiffness, and hardness for its relatively light weight. It also has high shock resistance, which is very important in the sports industry.
From the origin of the tree to the lumber that is used, Ash has the qualities that define a beautiful and beneficial hardwood. The Ash tree can be found in eastern North America and can reach heights of 80 feet with a diameter of 2 to 3 feet. Ash sapwood is light brown, while the Ash heartwood is brown to grayish brown, sometimes with a reddish tint. It is a dense hardwood with straight closed grains, usually with a smooth texture. Ash wood has good bending properties, due to its strength and firmness. With a janka hardness rating of 1320, Ash lumber is comparable to Red and White Oak in terms of overall strength. Ash wood has good workability and is fairly easy to work with using hand or power tools, but has a dulling effect on cutters. It also accepts nails and screws, and does so without splitting the wood. Is it any wonder why baseball bats are made out of this American made hardwood?
Wood working expert, Tom Elberson, says that Ash wood is an average domestic hardwood. He actually referred to Ash as the ?€˜Poor Man?€™s Oak?€™ because it is cheaper and has similar grains to that of Oak wood.
?€œThe wood stains, glues, and finishes well because of its smooth texture. However, if you do not like the look of the grains, I suggest sealing the wood before painting it. If you like the appearance of the grains, then just stain it or apply a clear coat.?€
When it comes to deciding on the perfect hardwood lumber for you, make sure you research your options. Ash is a great domestic wood. It has the qualities you look for, with the beauty to match!
Discover Ash wood benefits and features.
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