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Ash is a light-coloured hardwood known for its strength, durability and distinctive grain patterns. Its colour ranges from creamy white to pale yellow or light brown, sometimes with darker streaks in the heartwood. Ash has a coarse, open grain that gives finished projects plenty of natural character.
A popular choice among woodturners, ash cuts and shapes well with sharp tools and takes a variety of finishes. Its strength and attractive grain make it particularly suitable for salt and pepper mills, kitchen accessories, tool handles and other woodturning projects.
What are the dimensions of this block?
Each block measures approximately 2" square × 6" long (51 × 51 × 152 mm), offering plenty of material for kitchen kits, salt and pepper mills, decorative handles and other small turning projects. Each blank is selected at random and may vary in colour and grain from the image shown. The photo is representative only.
What makes ash a good wood for turning?
Ash is a strong, relatively hard wood that turns well with sharp tools. Its open grain produces distinctive patterns, particularly on rounded surfaces, making it a good choice for projects where you want the natural grain to stand out.
Ash also accepts stains and finishes well. Its light natural colour provides an excellent starting point for projects where you want to experiment with dyes, stains or contrasting finishes.
How should I finish ash?
For best results, sand progressively using Abranet or sanding mesh, followed by finer abrasives as needed. Because ash has an open grain, you may wish to use a grain filler if you prefer a completely smooth surface. However, leaving the grain slightly textured can also highlight the wood's natural character. Ash responds well to a variety of finishes, including friction polishes, oils and film-forming finishes.
Two fun facts about ash:
Ash has traditionally been used to make baseball bats, hockey sticks and tool handles because of its combination of strength, flexibility and shock resistance. Its ability to absorb impact without breaking easily has made it a favourite for sporting equipment and tools.
Ash trees across North America have been severely affected by the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that feeds beneath the bark and disrupts the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. The insect has killed millions of ash trees, making the conservation and management of remaining ash populations an important issue.
Price per block in Canadian dollars.
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