-Color: Heartwood is light tan to dark brown; sapwood is creamy white. Similar in appearance to white oak, but frequently more yellow.
-Grain: Bold, straight, moderately open grain with occasional wavy figuring. Can have strong contrast in grain in plain sawn boards.
-Variations within Species and Grades: Sometimes confused with hickory; the zone of large pores is more distinctive in ash, similar to that of red oak.
-Hardness/Janka: 1320; 2% harder than Northern red oak.
-Dimensional Stability: Above average (7.8; 9% more stable than Northern red oak)
-Sawing/Machining: Good machining qualities.
-Sanding: Sands satisfactorily if the correct sanding sequence is followed.
-Nailing: No known problems.
-Finishing: May be difficult to stain