Reply by HorizontalMike

I go for “cheap”, but having said that, I like both White Ash and Soft Maple.

The ash is light in color and easy to satin, plus at 1320 Janka it is plenty hard. The Soft Maple at 950 Janka, is a pleasure to work. It saws and planes very easily. Staining is a little more problematic, but who am I to say since I am rather new at staining and have had my challenges.

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."