AMERICAN RED ALDER: C
This is the most common hardwood available on the west coast of North America. It is a very versatile hardwood which can be stained to resemble a number of similar grained species. More commonly used as an alternative to American Cherry.

Production: S/E, DIM.

Alnus rubra
Family: Betulacae

Commercial names: Western Alder, Oregon Alder.

Distribution: Pacific coast of Canada and USA

General description: Heartwood is a pale yellow to reddish-brown in colour. Fairly straight grained and of uniform texture; it shows a pleasing but subdued figure. Weight about 530 kg/m3 (33lb/ft3); specific gravity .53

Mechanical properties: This is a soft and weak wood of medium density. It has low bending strength and shock resistance, medium crushing strength and very low stiffness.

Seasoning: It dries easily, fairly rapidly and well with negligible degrade and with little movement in service.

Working properties: The wood works well with both hand and machine tools, with only a slight tendency to pick up the grain in planing, overcome by a reduced cutting angle. There is a slight blunting effect on tools which should be kept sharp. It has good nailing and gluing properties and takes stain, paint and polish well.

Durability: The wood is perishable; liable to attack by common furniture beetle but is permeable for preservation treatment.

Uses: Turnery, carving, plywood corestock, utility plywood, small laminated articles, woodware, cabinet work and veneers. In decorative veneer form its natural defects are exploited, such as knots, burr (burl) clusters, minor stain and streaks etc.

JBT Comments: With the continued increase in the price and demand for American Cherry, furniture manufacturers, particularly in Europe, are using American Red Alder as a viable alternative at half the price. The close grain makes American Red Alder similar to many other more expensive hardwoods. With no colour difference between the heartwood and softwood, it has a uniform honey colour. These characteristics when stained, can take on the appearance of many hardwoods particularly Cherry, Walnut, Mahogany and even Apple and Pear.

Grade: Export “Superiors”. Higher than the grading required under NHLA standards. Abrasive planed to finish 1/16 ins undersize.

Specification: Square edge; 8ft and longer, 5 ins and wider, allowing up to 15% 6ft/7ft and/or 4ins.

Stockholding: 400 cubic feet in kiln dried stock: 1in, thickness. Other thicknesses available to order but are difficult to obtain.