Is Alder Wood A Hardwood

Lighter than some of its wood counterparts this hardwood member of the birch family has been used to make gorgeous renditions of everything from guitars to dining room tables.

Is alder wood a hardwood.

Distribution principally the pacific northwest where it is the most abundant commercial hardwood. Homeowners who want to pick the best wood for their wooden furniture are often confused when it comes to alder wood as they wonder if alder is a hardwood. The wood is fairly straight grained with a uniform texture. While there are many species of alder throughout the world the most commonly used in woodworking today is the red alder in the flooring industry hardwood harvested in north america is referred to as domestic which is less expensive than the imported.

Heartwood is formed only in trees of advanced age and there is no visible boundary between sap and heartwood. Although it is classified as a hardwood it is one of the softest hardwood. So a janka rating is an average of numerous tests performed on all directions and numerous pieces. Alder is often used as a face frame material on birch plywood cabinets.

Generally speaking the harder the wood the easier it is to finish and polish. As a hardwood alder is used in making furniture cabinets and other woodworking products. It is interesting to note that this light brown wood with striking grain patterns came into limelight as a more affordable alternative to cherry wood and that s exactly how. The hardness of wood varies with the direction of the wood grain and varies from piece to piece.

General description alder a relative of birch is almost white when freshly cut but quickly changes with exposure to air becoming light brown with a yellow or reddish tinge. Identified as a popular finish hardwood alder wood is one of the softest hardwoods on the market after of course pine and poplar wood. Extensive information on domestic exotic hardwoods. Harder woods create good solid long lasting joinery in furniture.

Red alder is almost white when freshly cut but quickly changes on exposure to air to light brown with a yellow or reddish tinge. It can be a great option for cabinets too but there are several factors to consider before making a decision about. Alnus alder is a north american hardwood usually found in the pacific northwest generally between california and alaska. Alder is a common wood used in cabinet making.

Owing to its malleable texture the wood is commonly known as a semi hardwood. If you re in the market for new cabinets there s a good chance you ve heard about alder wood. Alder is appreciated for its tone that is claimed to be tight and evenly balanced especially when compared to mahogany and has been adopted by many electric guitar manufacturers.