Western Red Alder

Fairly straight grained and of uniform texture; it shows a pleasing but subdued figure.

Durability:

The hardwood is perishable; liable to attack by common furniture beetle, but is permeable for preservation treatment.

Mechanical Properties:

This is a soft, weak timber of medium density, low bending strength and shock resistance, medium crushing strength and very low stiffness.

Seasoning:

Western Red Alder dries easily, fairly rapidly and well with negligible degrade and with little movement in service.

Uses:

  • Turnery and carving, plywood corestock, utility plywood, chip baskets and small laminated articles, woodenware, and veneers.
  • In decorative veneer form, its natural defects are exploited, such as knots, burr (burl) clusters, minor stains and streaks, stumpwood etc., and for plywood panelling in contemporary style.
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Description

Western Red Alder’s heartwood is 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 (33 lb/ft³); specific gravity .53.

Additional information

Latin Name

Alnus rubra

Family Name

Betulaceae

Distribution

Pacific coast of Canada and USA

Also know as

White ash, green ash (USA), red ash (Canada); black ash, brown ash (USA); Canadian ash (UK)

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