Woodworker's Journal 2009-33-3, страница 73

An Ash Lumber Legacy

By Rob Johnstone with Tim Knight

This hardworking hardwood lumber remains popular and versatile. Sadly, ash is also under a serious threat from an imported exotic pest.

I've always had the impression that ash is the Rodney Dangerfield of the hardwood lumber world. It just doesn't gel any respect. In fact, the most popular use for ash lumber commercially is to impersonate oak, a task that ash does quite well. This goes back a very long time in American furniture making. I've looked at several excellent examples of Golden Oak era antiques, only to find that the lumber was stained ash and not oak at all. Apparently, the Golden Oak era was before the truth in advertising rules.

Personally. I find ash to be a wonderful lumber to work with. It machines well, accepts slain and dye really well (if thai is important to you) and is always available. I like to selecl my ash lumber to include both sapwood and heartwood. 'Hie light brown and creamy white colorations look great with a simple clear finish, and the interplay between the two can be strikingly beautiful.

Many folks like to stain ash lumber, and the species truly excels in this area. It can take some extreme color and still present its open grain "woody" look. For example, I once built a bathroom vanity for a couple from white ash. When I asked them what color they wanted the piece, they replied that they wanted it the color of cranberry juice. (This was not what I had expected ...) A few tests with aniline dye later, we had the color and built (he casework. With its black granite lop and ultramodern fixtures, it was truly stunning.

Danger In the Forest

For as long as I have been woodworking, ash has been a good value, costing less than other comparable hardwoods. As Tim Knighl mentions in his sidebar, this may become even more true in the near future. In 2002, the emerald ash borer was

Golden in its fall colors, this green ash tree is located in Virgina, Minnesota, a region not yet affected by the emerald ash borer. The foliage of black ash (inset, lower left) and green ash (upper left) trees is very similar.

73 June 2009 Woodworker's Jou ma I