Red Alder (Alnus rubra)

Description: Red alder, a relative of birch, is almost white when freshly cut but quickly changes on exposure to air, becoming light brown with a yellow or reddish tinge. Heartwood is formed only in trees of advanced age and there is no visible boundary between sap and heartwood. The wood is fairly straight-grained with a uniform texture.

Main Uses: Furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors, shutters, mouldings, panel stock, turnings, carvings and kitchen utensils.

Physical Properties: Red alder is a relatively soft hardwood of medium density that has low bending strength, shock resistance and stiffness.

Availability: Available in dimension stock and lumber.

Working Properties: Red alder machines well and is excellent for turning. It nails, screws and glues well, and can be sanded, painted or stained to a good finish. When stained, it blends with walnut, mahogany or cherry. It dries easily with little degrade and has good dimensional stability after drying.