Oregon Ash
Fraxinus latifolia · hardwood · Western North America · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 1,160 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 38 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.55 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 8.1%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 4.1%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 2.0 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes The West Coast ash — similar to white ash in use, with a slightly higher flatsawn-to-quartersawn movement spread.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for oregon ash across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 3/32″ (0.104″) | 1/16″ (0.053″) |
| 12″ | 7/32″ (0.208″) | 3/32″ (0.105″) |
| 24″ | 13/32″ (0.417″) | 7/32″ (0.211″) |
| 36″ | 5/8″ (0.625″) | 5/16″ (0.316″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to oregon ash:
Typical swings:
Oregon Ash questions
How much does oregon ash move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn oregon ash board moves about 7/32″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 3/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 8.1% and radial 4.1% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is oregon ash?
Oregon Ash rates about 1,160 lbf on the Janka scale — in red oak’s hardness neighborhood (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 38 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is oregon ash good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 2.0:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is moderate. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Black Maple · Chestnut Oak · Green Ash · Black Oak · African Mahogany (Khaya) · Teak
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.