What is Ash?

This type of wood has very similar characteristics to Oak. They are so closely related that there has been some debate recently about the similarities between Oak and Ash. Ash has been used for many years in furniture production. Both oak and ash are extremely dense but ash tends to have a tighter grain and has less knots. As timber dries knots tend to lead to splits resulting in surface deformation and in extreme cases the knot falls out leaving a hole. This is far less prevalent with ash which dries more uniformly and has a more pleasing pippy look to the grain with less variation in colour and strength. One of the main reasons that Oak has been associated with strength and quality is that for years it was the most prolific indigenous hardwood and easiest to obtain a high usable yield. In fact the British Empire was said to have been built on the strength of our Oak. However this was generally more to do with its ample supply rather than it being the most suitable timber. The fact is that today Oak is in short supply and therefore considerably more expensive. Ash is now grown commercially throughout the world which means that due to its availability it is not an expensive wood. Therefore, we now have a fantastically versatile and durable hardwood available, allowing furniture to be crafted to a very high standard from a traditional hardwood at extremely affordable prices.