White Ash Thin Stock Lumber
White Ash is one of the toughest hardwoods for its weight. It has a Janka hardness of 1320 – so it’s almost as strong as hard maple. Its strength and bright neutral color means thin ash lumber is highly versatile, even when finished to thin stock dimensions.
What You Need to Know About Our White Ash Thin Stock Lumber
Our thin white ash boards come in thicknesses of ½”, ¼”, and ⅛”. We will cut them to custom lengths (from 18” to 48”) and widths (from 3” to 6.5”), surface them on 4 sides in our Chicago-area woodshop, then ship them -- carefully packaged – to your door.
Our white ash boards are kiln dried to 6-8% moisture content.
Other Names for White Ash Lumber
The scientific name for white ash is Fraxinus americana. As a tree, white ash may be called Biltmore Ash.
Where We Source Our White Ash Lumber
At North Castle Hardwoods, we take pride in producing top-quality white ash lumber from true white ash (Fraxinus americana) timber. Unlike other lumber suppliers, we don’t mix other ash species into our white ash offering, ensuring a consistent brightness and texture in our white ash boards.
Our commitment to excellence begins with the careful selection of ash lumber from healthy forests. We primarily choose second-growth white ash for its exceptional strength and bright white sapwood. Our thin stock ash boards have a very low percentage of heartwood. If heartwood is found in a piece, it should be smoothly blended from the white sapwood to the light tan or light brown heartwood.
We know that Ash is one of the most important species to harvest responsibly, and we work with loggers and sawmills that are certified in sustainable practices. Our goal is to leave the forests healthier than we found them. We are a family-owned business committed to looking after the next generation.
Common Uses For White Ash Lumber
We love to tell customers that white ash is the strongest North American hardwood species for its weight. It weighs only 3.1 pounds per board foot on average – significantly less than hard maple’s 3.8 pounds. Its strength nearly rivals that of hard maple.
Ash can be a bit tricky to stain, but you can get a really fun finish on ash wood if you use the right techniques. Its natural light color makes it an attractive choice for flooring in bowling alleys, dance halls, or other areas that need high impact-resistance. When the color is left natural, white ash needs to be finished with UV-blocking polyurethane to prevent natural yellowing and oxidation.
White ash has low moisture resistance, so it’s best for products that will be used indoors. White ash thin stock is particularly good for indoor signs, veneer, and crafts. We also sell dimensioned boards white ash and turning blanks that can be used for furniture, cutting boards, cabinets, and a host of other applications.
If you’d like an expert opinion on choosing the best ash wood for your next project, feel free to give us a call today!
