Ash

Straight or slightly wavy grain, fine even texture, heartwood light reddish brown with almost white sapwood. Not rot resistant and susceptible to insect attack. Easy to work with hand and machine tools, turns, glues and finishes well.

Grain is straight, with a very coarse texture. Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood can become nearly black. However, unlike most other dark hardwoods, the heartwood of wenge can lighten (rather than darken) when exposed to sunlight. Very durable; good termite resistance.

Grain is slightly interlocked, producing an irregularly striped ribbon figure on quartersawn surfaces. Medium to fine uniform texture. Heartwood is golden to reddish brown. Fairly well defined sapwood is a contrasting pale brown. Moderate rot and insect resistant.