European Ash Turning Blank

European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

Produces good results with hand or machine tools. Responds well to steam bending. Glues, stains, and finishes well.

European Ash has fairly good strength properties for its weight, and is also shock resistant.

When stained, ash can look very similar to oak (Quercus spp.), although oaks have much wider rays, which are visible on all wood surfaces—even on flatsawn surfaces, where they appear as short, thin brown lines between the growth rings. Ashes lack these conspicuous rays.