Ash and Hickory

Post date: 03-Jan-2013 04:20:14

This month we are getting two for the price of one. 

Ash and Hickory.

Immediately this should give you an idea as to the main use for these timbers in tools: hammer and axe handles. Unlike the timbers previously described, hammer and axe handles do not need to take any real impact. What they do need to do is flex, although not too much, and absorb shock.

Ash

The Fraxinus genus includes the olive and lilac families, and contains between 45 - 60 species. They all are medium trees, providing good lengths of timber. The European Ash is Fraxinus excelsior. The wood itself finishes well, is reasonably easy to work, is very strong and flexible, but does not last well outdoors. Over the years it has been used by carriage makers for providing car frames with the flexibility needed as well as polishing up well.

Some of the Ash species also have very good sound qualities, resulting in their use in guitar bodies. The use of Ash for hammer and axe handles appears to be predominately by European manufacturers. This is probably because the European Ash in particular is very common. 

The combination of strength and flexibility has also seen it used in the making of long bows, all types of long handled implements such as hoes and rakes, as well as baseball bats. 

The House Handle Company in Missouri specializes in making handles for all types of farm and industry tools made from Hickory, White Oak and Ash. 

Unfortunately in recent times the Ash has become the victim of serious biological threats in both the US and Europe. The emerald ash borer has already destroyed millions of trees in the US and Canada, whereas the Ash dieback fungus has infected over 90% of trees in Denmark, and has recently (October 2012) been detected in native forests in the UK. As the Ash species comprises something approaching 80m trees in the UK alone, all of which could be in danger, this represents a significant natural threat. 

Hickory 

Hickory, or Carya genus, includes just under 20 species, the majority of which are native to North America. These are distributed from Canada through to Mexico. There are a few located in China, India and Indochina. Hickory wood is very hard, very stiff, and with good shock absorbing properties. There are many timbers that are harder, and some that are stronger, but the combination found in Hickory is hard to beat.. Hickory is used in the US in a similar fashion to the Ash in Europe, although they both have their specialties too. 

Hickory is used for tool handles, wheel spokes, drumsticks and more. Golf club shafts were made of Hickory, although baseball bats have given way to Ash.

Hickory Handled Axe

The bottoms of skis, walking sticks and other high flex, high wear uses are also often made from Hickory. It is used in some floors. 

Although some of this is driven by the nature of the timber, it is also advantageous that the timber is plentiful, and therefore relatively cheap, as well as being sustainably grown. 

The Hickory family also includes nut trees such as walnut and pecan, and the timber is also used for smoking meats and burning in BBQís, as it has a high energy content as well as a good flavour.

Hickory Tree

Tennessee Hickory Products, from Louden in Tennesse makes a wide range of handles exclusively from Hickory and Ash. The high impact handles, such as axes, hammers, mallets, sledges, froes and hatchets are Hickory, whereas the longer more flexible but lower impact ones such as rakes, hoes, forks and shovels are from Ash. 

Information derived from Wikipedia