The Wonderful World of Wood:

Red Alder:

  • "Alnus rubra"

Other Names:

  • Western Alder.
  • Oregon Alder.

Sources:

  • Pacific coast of North America.

Tree Characteristics:

  • A relatively small tree, reaching about 50ft in height and producing a trunk from 1ft to 1ft 8in in diameter.

Characteristics of the wood:

  • A soft relatively low strength stright grained even textured wood, pale yellow to reddish brown in colour with a subtle figure.
  • It is non durable, but can be treated with preservative.

Workability:

  • It works well with hand and machine tools, but sharp cutting need to be mantained to prevent tearing the grain.
  • It glues well.

Average dried weight:

  • 33lb/cuft.

Finishing:

  • It accepts stain well and can be brought to a good finished with paint or polish.

Common uses:

  • Furniture.
  • Turnery.
  • Carving.
  • Toys.
  • Plywood.
  • Veneer.

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