Core ash
bot. Fraxinus excelsior
The term Core ash does not refer to a species of ash, but to a differentiated colour between the heartwood and sapwood. While the sapwood remains the usual whitish colour, ash trees can develop a dark, mostly grey-brown heartwood when they reach a mature age of around 60 years. Core ash, which can be found more or less often depending on where it grows, was shunned for a long time because it did not comply with the trend for light-coloured, plain wood. Today, demand has risen again. Particularly for table tops or floor coverings, the cored ash gives a very decorative appearance.
Comments
Low durability, especially outdoors. Not weather resistant.
Hardness grade
39
Color
Irregularly grading, in different shades of brown to grey-brown darker core. The colour core can range from a few centimetres to approx. 15cm width.
Due to its striking darker grain, the wood has a very lively appearance and is often used for design elements, for turning work and in furniture making.
Sourcing high-quality and evenly grained ash wood is a great challenge. It requires thorough sorting of the boards, careful cutting and manual sorting and assembling to ensure an even pattern on the end product.
Origin
- The range of the ash tree extends over almost the whole of Europe; it is particularly common in the northern foothills of the Alps, in Poland and in the Baltic States.
- Ash trees are found in alluvial forests and along streams and rivers (so-called "water ash"), but also on rather dry limestone soils ("lime ash").
- It is also a very common street and avenue tree.
Wood character
- texture marked by broad early wood grain ring, mostly coarse, late wood grain as light individual groups, occasionally in oblique or short tangential arrangement.
- Sapwood/nucleus boundary not always pronounced (optional colour nucleus).
- Wood with a slight semigloss, without a specific odour.
- The natural yellowing of ash can be counteracted with a brightening varnish/oil with appropriate UV protection.
Use
- - Thanks to its very decorative appearance, ash is very popular for surface parts such as beds, covers and table tops.
Characteristics
Weight: 720 KG/M³
Weight (Average bulk density air dry, ᵨ 12...15)
Average hardness: 40 N/MM²
Average hardness according to Brinell (radial)
Stability: mittel
Dimensional and form stability
Durability: nicht dauerhaft
Natural durability according to DIN-EN 350-2