Ashes
Hardness among the 4 ashes here ranges from 850 lbf (Black ash) to 1,320 lbf (White ash). The flattest-drying is Green ash; the stiffest is White ash.
- The largest step inside the family is the 310 lbf between Oregon ash, at 1,160 lbf, and black ash, at 850 lbf.
- All four sit in the middle half of the 155 woods for hardness, between 565 lbf and 1,465 lbf.
- Density runs from a specific gravity of 0.45 in black ash to 0.55 in white ash.
- The stiffest is white ash, at 1.74 million psi, 68th of all 155.
- 1,180 lbfmedian hardness
- 0.52median density
- 13,400 psimedian bending strength
- 7.8%median face shrinkage
AshesOther woodsNorthern red oak, the usual yardstick
Ranked by hardness
Hardest first. Density is specific gravity; shrinkage is volumetric, green to oven-dry.
| # | Wood | Janka, lbf | Density | Bending, psi | Shrinkage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | White ashFraxinus americanaSG 0.55 · 13.3% shrinkage | 1,320 | 0.55 | 15,000 | 13.3% |
| 2 | Green ashFraxinus pennsylvanicaSG 0.53 · 12.5% shrinkage | 1,200 | 0.53 | 14,100 | 12.5% |
| 3 | Oregon ashFraxinus latifoliaSG 0.50 · 13.2% shrinkage | 1,160 | 0.50 | 12,700 | 13.2% |
| 4 | Black ashFraxinus nigraSG 0.45 · 15.2% shrinkage | 850 | 0.45 | 12,600 | 15.2% |
Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook (2010), Tables 4-3, 4-4, 5-3b and 5-5b. How we use the data · Compare or filter these woods · Guide: Hardwood vs softwood in numbers