red alder wood

Just as a connoisseur of Eastern ham insists that it be smoked only with hickory, the salmon fisherman of the Pacific Northwest demands his fish be cooked over alder coals. The measurement was developed to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring; however, we include it here and compare it to the rating of red oak to help you make a buying choice.The hardness of wood varies with the direction of the wood grain, and varies from piece to piece.

Alder wood characteristics include the unique property of “nitrogen fixing” the soil, which makes it a great species to promote environmental restoration after an area has been logged.

Alder is used for furniture, casework, woodenware, toys, moulding and doors. American red alder is the most common hardwood in the Pacific Northwest of the USA, and it the largest of the American alders. Until recent years, these were the wood's primary commercial uses in a land ruled by lumber-producing conifers.In fact, red alder was pretty much dismissed for production because, like a weed, the species popped up in clearings where other trees were felled.

Alnus rubra, Red Alder, Western Red Alder or Western Alder is fairly straight grained with a uniform texture. In the fall, they drop to the ground still green.The wood of red alder, at 28 lbs. Atlas 300M-08 Fit Palm Coating Natural Rubber Glove The Atlas 300 gloves work great for cutting alder (and any other type of firewood) because they protect your hands and last a long time. Burnt-over tracts also were quickly covered by young alder stands, often threatening more commercially important softwood seedlings. Except for its slightly darker color, red alder resembles white birch in appearance (Photo 1). Older specimens in damp growing conditions feature dark spots of moss. Older specimens in damp growing conditions feature dark spots of moss.

Alder is a prolific, fast growing species that is medium in strength, low in durability and light in weight.The lumber is of fairly straight grain, uniform texture and little distinctive figuring. Expect to pay about $3 per board foot for Selects and Better, the finest grade.You may be able to buy red alder at retail hardwood outlets in the Midwest. Alder works and turns easily. It is a fast-growing species and has nitrogen-fixing nodules on its roots that are formed as a result of a beneficial relationship with a species of bacteria. per cubic foot dry, weighs about one third less than red oak. Green Alder Wood. The wood darkens to a warm reddish-brown color after being felled. Also, it's commercially used on the West Coast for production turnings, cabinets, paneling, doors, millwork, unfinished furniture (especially chairs) and waterbed frames. We've also compared the number to that of red oak, as red oak is the most commonly used hardwood in North America.Most of the time, the higher the specific gravity, the more abuse your tools take. For more related content, subscribe to our newsletter! When red alder is cut in the autumn, the wood color is frequently a golden yellow. Of the ten species of Alnus native to the United States, red alder is the only one that reaches commercial size and abundance. After kiln drying to 6-8% moisture content (MC) the wood is a honey brown color. And loggers who daily fell the mighty Douglas fir prefer the heat of a winter fire fueled by red alder. It is also the most common and important of the hardwoods in the Pacific Northwest.Size, Longevity, and Form Mature red alder trees are typically 70 to 120 ft in height (130 ft maximum) and 10 to 34 in. So keep sharp ones handy or resharpen for high-quality cuts.

Alder works and turns easily. ALDER Alder is a warm honey-red colored wood with a beautiful, subtle grain interspersed with fine lines and flecks produced by the tree’s annual growth rings. Use by wildlife: Finches eat the seeds of Red Alder. maximum). The Pacific Northwest's most abundant hardwood. It doesn't matter what your skills are, we aim to provide friendly service and advice. The wood of certain alder species is often used to smoke various food items such as coffee, salmon and other seafood. Get all of the latest CarlWood product news and updates delivered straight to your inbox.Red Alder (Alnus rubra) is the most plentiful hardwood on the Pacific Coast. That's entirely fitting to this tree that prefers living close to water.As the most abundant hardwood species of the region, red alder has for a century been the seafood industry's choice for smoking fish. Furthermore, it is a fast-growing species, which means that it gets high marks as a renewable resource. Although red alder may be about the easiest North American hardwood to dry, it does require a special kiln schedule that avoids discoloration through the oxidation of extractives.

in diameter (70 in. The lumber is widely available and typically sold in two grades, rustic (or knotty), and clear (or superior).