This opens up a few new possibilities

[rodger.]

I went to my local lumberyard today to buy some TB3 and a few other bits and bobs, and I found a display of thermally treated ash.

I took a sample, and this product is pretty cool. This sample is white ash, and has been thermally treated. The manufacturer claims that it is weather resistant, and is a suitable replacement for ipe.

The colour is beautiful, and goes all the way through the stock. This gives a new option for outdoor furniture, though the cost is high. It's sold by the square foot and is available in a variety if finished dimension. The sample I got happens to be a floor board.

[wtnhighlander]

Thermally treated, as in 'baked until it is hard as a rock'? Same treatment our distant ancestors used to harden wooden spear points. Wonder just how weather resistant it is? Nice color, though.

[Tom King]

Really cool!!!  I did not know about this stuff.  I visited a multi-million dollar restored 1794 house last weekend that had Ipe porch flooring.  This would have been a much better choice.

 

I found this:  http://www.baileywp.com/html/tm_ash.html

[Egraff]

Oh this is very nice....  great find!  I'd never heard of this.

 

 - EG

[Andy Cloud]

I've seen at my local hardwood dealer, thermal poplar. Nice dark color and very economical. It would be perfect for dark internal parts If you didn't want to stain them. The store owner was making coffee tables out of it that looked very nice too.