QUARTER SAWN ASH LUMBER 2024

Quarter Sawn Ash Lumber

Quartersawn Ash lumber is not as common as red oak or white oak. Typically, ash logs are sawn in plain-sawn grain orientation. However, Quarter Sawn Ash presents a pleasing uniform appearance where symmetry is desired.

What is Ash wood?

Ash is a deciduous hardwood of the fraxinus genius. Thus, it is a popular wood among woodworkers in North America and other areas of the world.

Ash heartwood has a medium to light brown color. Additionally, its sapwood is pale to white. Interestingly, the color contrast between heart & sap varies by ash sub-specie. For example, in Northern varieties, the color difference is more pronounced than in southern varieties.

It is known for its pronounced open grain and excellent mechanical properties. Additionally, it finishes beautifully.

Common Quarter Sawn Ash Lumber Features

Although there are many varieties of ash, they all have certain features in common.

Fraxinus, English name ash, is a genus of flowering plants in the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae. It contains 45–65 species of usually medium to large trees, mostly deciduous, though a number of subtropical species are evergreen. The genus is widespread across much of Europe, Asia, and North America

source: Wikipedia

Among the most common species of ash that are seen commercially, some basic divisions can be made; the first is between White Ash (Fraxinus americana) and Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra). White Ash tends to have a lighter heartwood color, and wider spaced growth rings. By contrast, the heartwood color of Black Ash tends to be slightly darker, and the growth rings are typically much closer together.

source: Ash Wood: Black, White , and Everything in Between (The Wood-Database)

Additionally, Swamp Ash is a lightweight soft textured subcategory of Southern White Ash. Swamp or Guitar Ash is primarily used to make electric guitar bodies.

Quartersawn Ash lumber with flame figure — Quartersawn Flamed Fraxinus excesior or Common_ash

Technical Information

Scientific name: Fraxinus americana (for North American varieties) Fraxinus excelsior (for European)
Alternative Names: White Ash, Black Ash, Punky Ash, Green Ash, Common Ash
Region of Origin: North America (primarily East Coast) and France & Germany within Europe
Average Dried Weight: 40 LB/cubic foot
Janka Hardness Rating: 1300
Specific Gravity: .66
IUCN Red List: No
CITES wood: No

Ash Lumber Data

Scientific Name	Fraxinius americana
Common Names	Guitar Ash, White Ash, Punky Ash, Swamp Ash
Family	Olive
Genus	Fraxinus
Higher Classification	Oleeae
Rank	Lamiales
Kingdom	PLantae
Region of Origin	North America \| Canada\| United States \| North \|Mid West\| South
CITES Appendix	No
IUCN Red List of Concern	Yes
Durability	Low
Density	Medium
Janka Rating	1310
Scent	None
Average Weight (LB) per Board Foot (KD)	3.35
Specific Gravity	.655
Average Board Width (inches)	9.75
Average Board Length (feet)	6.5
Average Tree Diameter (inches)	68
Average Tree Height (feet)	48
Texture	Medium
Heartwood Color	Brown
Sapwood Color	Cream White
Grain Type	Course, Interlocking, Open
Heart/Sap Distinction	Strong
Drying Difficulty	Dries consistently, Low, Low risk of kiln defects, Uniform acclimation
Commercial Availability in US	Medium
Cutting Ease	High, Machines well, Mild blunting on tool blades
Glue Difficulty	Adheres well, Low
Color Tone	Straw, Tan
Stability	Average
Finish Difficulty	Accepts stains evenly, Easy to finish, Low
Thickness Availability	10/4, 12/4, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4
Plain Sawn Availability	Yes
Quartersawn Availability	Yes
Live Sawn Availability	Yes
Veneer Availability	Yes
Grades Available	#1 Common, #2 Common, FAS, Select
Milling Available	Edge Glue, Gang Rip, Rough-sawn, S2S, SL1E, SL2E
Millwork Wood	Yes
Birdseye Figure	No
Curl Figure	Yes
Quilt Figure	No
Flame Figure	Yes
Furniture Wood	Yes
Turning Wood	Yes
Flooring Wood	Yes
Guitar Wood (Acoustic)	Yes/p>
Guitar Wood (Electric)	Yes
Price	$$
Similar Species	Catalpa, Red Oak Empresswood, Paulownia

What is Quartersawn Wood?

Quarter sawn wood is lumber that is sawn at the sawmill using a quarter-sawing process. Consequently, this means that each log is sawn at an angle into four quarters. Accordingly, the grain-lines on the lumber face appear mostly vertical & uniform.

What is Quartersawn Ash Used For?

Quartered Ash is has many woodworking applications:

Baseball bat billets
Architectural millwork
Quartersawn Flooring
Wooden handles
Wood turnings
Musical instrument tonewood

Many of these woodworking applications desire the stability & uniformity of quartersawn grain. Additionally, its density helps maintain the integrity of the wood.

Significantly, vertical grain-lines also create an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Quarter sawn oak, on the other hand, is much more structurally sound and resists cupping, twisting, warping, moisture penetration, and raised grain. One of the most sought after features of quarter sawn wood, particularly in white and red oak, is the flecks and the rays that appear on the face of the boards as a result of cutting along the growth rings. In oak wood especially, these flecks and rays can be quite dramatic and add a unique, striking quality to the wood.

source: Quarter Sawn vs Flat Sawn Oak: The Ultimate Guide(Modern Bungalo)