4/4 Black Ash Rough Sawn Lumber
Direct Kingma listing for European Ash; inventory, lengths, and widths can rotate by variant.
View optionEuropean Ash Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
European Ash is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific nameFraxinus excelsior
Janka hardness1,480 lbf
Average dried weight42 lb/ft³
Best fitFlooring
Overview
Why choose European Ash?
European Ash is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Europe and southwestern Asia. It is useful when the project calls for flooring, millwork, boxes/crates, baseball bats, and other turned objects such as tool handles
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific nameFraxinus excelsior
DistributionEurope and southwestern Asia
ShrinkageRadial: 5.7%, Tangential: 9.6%, Volumetric: 15.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.7
DurabilityHeartwood is rated as perishable, or only slightly durable in regard to decay.
European Ash colour, grain, and figure
Expect the heartwood is a light to medium brown color, though darker streaks can also be seen, which is sometimes sold as Olive Ash . Sapwood can be very wide, and tends to be a beige or light brown; not always clearly or sharply demarcated from heartwood.
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: has a medium to coarse texture similar to oak. The grain is almost always straight and regular, though sometimes curly or figured boards can be found.
Working notes
In the shop, produces good results with hand or machine tools. Responds well to steam bending.
Ash in the Fraxinus genus has been reported to cause skin irritation, and a decrease in lung function.
European Ash should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for European Ash
Best projects
Flooring, millwork, boxes/crates, baseball bats, and other turned objects such as tool handles
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying European Ash from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
8/4 Black Ash Rough Sawn Lumber
Direct Kingma listing for European Ash; inventory, lengths, and widths can rotate by variant.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
European Ash FAQ
What is European Ash best used for?
European Ash is best considered for flooring, millwork, boxes/crates, baseball bats, and other turned objects such as tool handles. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is European Ash beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell European Ash?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.