Ash vs Oak
Natural Material · grade comparison
Ash and Oak are both natural material grades. Ash is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 110 MPa (16 ksi) against 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) for Oak, about 16% more. Ash is lighter (0.67 g/cm³ vs 0.72 g/cm³ for Oak) and Oak runs hotter in service (90°C vs 80°C continuous).
AshChoose it when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint.
OakChoose it when the part sees heat.
Ash vs Oak: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Hardness, Mohs
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.37 · Elongation at Break 1% · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 0.5 MPa·√m0.46 ksi·√in
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Same in both: Min Service Temperature -60°C-76 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Polishability
Same in both: Machinability 70 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 11 MJ/kg4,729 BTU/lb · Typical Recycled Content 5%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.1 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Ash | Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$ Standard | $$ Standard |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Ash vs Oak — frequently asked
Is Ash stronger than Oak?
Yes. Ash has a typical tensile strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) against 95 MPa (13.8 ksi) for Oak — about 16% more.
Which is cheaper, Ash or Oak?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$, standard); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
When should I choose Ash over Oak?
Pick Ash when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint. Pick Oak when the part sees heat.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Ash and Oak side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.