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Alder, the versatile hardwood, can be used alone or together with other species Alder is a close or fine grained wood similar to cherry, birch and maple. It is used in both solid wood and veneer applications. Alder's fine homogeneous grain structure and the light uniform color of both heartwood and sapwood make it easy to form, fasten and finish. The U.S. Forest Products Laboratory chart to the left demonstrates the fact that the total workability index of Alder is higher than most hardwoods. As you will see, Alder is an excellent choice for even the most complex machining, gluing and finishing projects. Of special interest is the superb finishing versatility of alder. Both the heartwood and sapwood are a light honey color. This light and uniform color is both easy to stain and highly valued in its natural state for today's clean modern designs. If staining is desired, Alder can easily match Cherry, Walnut, Pecan, Maple, Mahogany and many others. And since sap discoloration and mineral streaks are absent, Alder is easy to finish with clear 'fruitwood' stains. For workability, availability, and finishing versatility, Alder is a very versatile and predictable material. Alder is also a material that works well with a broad range of other woods and finishing techniques. |
