hardwood · Fraxinus nigra
Black Ash wood properties
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Fraxinus nigra |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,600,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.55 |
| Density (approx) | 34 lb/ft³ (2.9 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 850 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 7.8% / 5% |
| Region | Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Black Ash weighs about 11.4 lb (roughly 34 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 850 lbf is harder than about 38% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: flooring, millwork, boxes, baseball bats, tool handles, turned objects.
Durability: Heartwood is perishable and prone to insect attack, offering little natural decay resistance.
Workability: Machines and hand-tools cleanly, steam-bends readily, and accepts glue, stain, and finish well.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Black Ash:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (which cites the USDA FPL Wood Handbook). Black Ash is not individually listed in the printed FPL/Hoadley dimensional change coefficient chart, so CT/CR are omitted. Uses, region, durability and workability summarized from The Wood Database. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.