NATIVE/EUROPEAN ASH: CLEAR WHITE CROWN: D
We normally select our Clear White Ash, 80% of the boards white on two faces, the remaining 20% will be white on one face with limited colour on the reverse. We can however select 100% white both faces dependant on the stock available. Our selected Clear White Ash will be a mix of crown cut, rift and quartered and we will select if required, crown only and rift and quartered only.

Production: T/T, 1/SE, S/E, DIM.

Fraxinus excelsior
Family: Oleaceae

Commercial Names: English, French, Polish, Slavonian, etc. according to origin.

Distribution: Grows throughout Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.

General description: The heartwood is cream to pale tan coloured. In most logs a light brown heartwood is found which is strong and sound. The wood is tough, flexible and straight grained. The texture is coarse but even. The weight varies between 510-830 kg/m3 (32-51 lb/ft3). average 710 kg/m3 (44lb/ft3); specific gravity 0.71.

Unusual characteristics: OLIVE ASH: This very attractive feature is found mainly in old park grown trees where the light brown to dark grey heart colour is predominant with only a little white timber at the edge of the boards. The marbled effect is very similar to that found in Mediterranean Olivewood.

Unusual characteristics: RIPPLED ASH: This is an even mass of ripple grain running at right angles to the grain of the wood. This can be found in both white and coloured Ash and the effect is very similar to that found in Ripple/Fiddleback Sycamore.When both Ripple and Olive are combined the effect is quite stunning. Selected logs are held in stock in the round for
conversion to customers requirements.

Mechanical properties: This tough, heavy, dense timber is fairly split resistant and has excellent steam bending properties, and with low stiffness and medium resistance to crushing and shock loads.

Seasoning: It dries fairly rapidly and needs care to avoid surface checking and splitting, but responds well to reconditioning kiln treatment; medium movement in service.

Working properties: Ash has a moderate blunting effect on tools and offers medium resistance to cutting edges, but it works well with all hand and machine tools. It is necessary to pre-bore for nailing. The wood stains easily and can be brought to an excellent smooth finish.

Durability: The wood is non-durable and perishable. It is susceptible to insect attack by both powder post and common furniture beetle. The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment, but black heartwood is resistant.

Uses: Sports Ash is valued around the world for sports goods and striking-tool handles. Used for bats, racquets, hockey sticks, polo mallet heads, gymnasium equipment, cricket stumps and snooker cues; bent parts for boat building, canoes, oars, tillers, deck beams and frames. Extensively used for cabinetmaking and furniture, chair making, agricultural implements, vehicle bodies, wheelwrighting, bentwork, fancy turnery and laminated articles.

JBT Comments: When Ash is required to be white on both faces, we can offer this in Native Ash. Available from stock in 1ins thickness, in through and through, one square edge, random square edge and dimension boards. Other thicknesses available to order. With all “Oak” grained species continuing to move upwards in price, particularly American White Oak and White Ash. Our British/European Ash, when graded correctly, can compete in every way. This particularly applies to our 1/2ins and 3/4ins drawer side stock which is very competitively priced as an alternative species to Oak.

Certification: We have established a supply of European Ash which is produced from well managed forests, independently certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council A.C. and/or The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes. All our Certified Timber is processed through our Chains of Custody which are audited by BM TRADA
Certification.

Grade: First Quality, selected and produced to customers requirements, lower grades available to order.

Specifications: We select for two colour grades. 70% white, 30% light brown colour accepted on both faces. a) Through and through and/or one square edge; 7ft and longer, average 9ft. 6ins and wider, average 10ins.
b) One square edge, resawn after kilning; 7ft and longer, average 9ft. 5ins and wider, average 7ins. c) Square edge, resawn after kilning; 6ft and longer, average 8ft. 4ins and wider, average 6ins. 100% white one face, minimal colour on reverse. a) Through and through and/or one square edge; 6ft and longer, average 7ft. 4ins and wider, average 6ins. b) One square edge, resawn after kilning; 6ft and longer, average 7ft. 4ins and wider, average 5ins. c) Square edge; resawn after kilning; 5ft and longer, average 7ft. 3ins and wider, average 5ins.

Stockholding: 4,000 cubic feet in kiln dried and air dried stock: 1/2 ins to 4ins thickness. 2,000 cubic feet of round logs are available for sawing and kilning to customers requirements.