Working with Ash Veneer

Ash, a durable domestic, is relatively affordable and considered fairly easy to work with both power tools and hand tools.

Having a few helpful pointers is still an asset. Here are some things you should know.

Solid Wood vs. Ash Veneer
Ash is a hardwood native to North America, which produces a creamy white sapwood and a very hard, durable heartwood. It is scratch resistant and has a high Janka hardness rating (although that is dependent on species).

Ash veneer is a popular alternative to solid ash hardwood because it is more affordable and more economical, since a single log can provide quite a lot of veneer sheets, panels, and edgebanding.

Due to the differences between ash veneer and solid hardwood, some of the considerations you’ll have to take into account when working them will vary. These are some of the most important of them.

Provide Support When Cutting
Whether you cut an ash veneer sheet with a knife, a saw, a router, or a rotary tool, provide support under the backer when doing so. If you don’t support the bottom of the sheet, you will be likely to tear out some of the grain as the tool passes over (and bears down on) the sheet. One good way to do this is to cut the sheet slightly overhanging the edge of a table or a workbench, so that the table or bench under it supports some of it.

Use a Sharp Blade, Not a Saw
Saws can be an effective tool for woodworking, but even the fastest saw is still likely to tear out the grain on veneer, even with adequate support. A sharp knife, which will compress and shear the fibers of wood’s grain, is far less likely to cause tearout.

One trick when using a razor or a craft knife is to score the top of the ash veneer several times before making the final cut all the way through the wood and backer. Several shallow cuts are more likely to leave a clean edge with no tearout than one aggressive pass.

Go Slow When Sanding
This has more to do with the fact that you’re working with veneer than it has to do with the species, but the thing to keep in mind is that you can’t take back what you’ve already done. With solid hardwood, if you don’t like the finish, you can just strip it all down and sand again. Ash veneer is too thin for this, and if you sand multiple times you’ll “sand through” to the backer. This is an irreversible mistake. Start with a light grit and be conservative about it.

Be Smart About the Finish
Ash is more receptive to staining than other similar hardwoods like maple, so you can usually stain it. It also looks nice with a topcoat, like lacquer or polyurethane. Just be aware that ash veneer, like maple, will turn golden with age.

Start Your Project with High Quality Ash Veneer
Looking for high quality ash veneer sheets and panels? Get them online at Oakwood Veneer. They carry a wide range of exotic and domestic hardwood veneer, including ash. Check out their collection and get in touch with them at 800-426-6018 if you have any questions.

For More Information about Oak Burls and Burled Walnut Please Visit: Oakwood Veneer Company.