Western Red Alder

TEMPERATE HARDWOOD

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.

General 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.

Further product details

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.

Durability

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

Other Information

Family Name: Betulaceae

Latin Name: Alnus rubra

Distribution: Pacific coast of Canada and USA

Also known as: White ash, green ash (USA), red ash (Canada); black ash, brown ash (USA); Canadian ash (UK).

American Ash American Birds Eye Maple American Black Walnut American Cherry American Hard Rock Maple American Red Elm American Red Oak American Soft Maple American Tulipwood American White Oak Western Red Alder