Alder Knotty 8/4 Lumber

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Alder Knotty 8/4 Lumber

$4.49 /Board Feet

1-99 $4.49 /Bd. Ft.
100+ $3.37 /Bd. Ft. (25% off)
Tip: mix or match for your best price! Details

Pick Up In Store

Sorry, not available for online purchase at this time
Tempe
Tucson
Phoenix

About Lumber Sizes & Shipping Length Restrictions

Alder lumber comes in random sizes. Here's what you can expect.

4" to 10" Widths

Price shown is for a random selection of widths within this range. You can request specific widths or add a straight edge rip in the order form.

6' to 10' Lengths

This is the range of lengths that we might have in stock. The length you receive depends on how much you order.

Length Shipping Restrictions
84" (7') long max
We always try to ship the longest lengths possible.
8' to 12' long is possible
8' and longer can be shipped truck freight, but this method is usually economical only for shipments that are at least 450 lbs (approx 100-150 board feet depending on the wood).

1-13/16" Thickness

Also known as 8/4, S2S. Surfaced 2 sides (S2S) from rough sawn lumber. You should be able to yield approximately 1-3/4" thickness after you flatten, plane, shape or sand your project parts to fit your project.
Learn more in our blog: "What Does 4/4 Mean in Lumber?"

How Lumber Ordering Works

1

Decide how much you need in Board Feet. Best way to get help with this is to use our Project Planner worksheet

2

Consider how much extra you want for arranging grain or color, fixing mistakes, testing cut set ups or finishes.

3

Choose your size requirements, if you have any, in the order form.

About Alder (Alnus rubra)

View All Alder Products
Weight

2.33

lbs /Bd. Ft.
-34.92% lighter than red oak (3.58 /bd. ft.)
Hardness

590

Janka Rating
-54.26% softer than red oak (1290 psi)
Density

0.41

Specific Gravity
-35.94% less dense than red oak (.64)

General Workability
Good 4/10
Red Oak

Wood Texture
V. Fine 2/10
Red Oak

Ease of Finishing
Good 4/10
Red Oak

map of where Alder tree grows
Alder is a domestic wood from North America

Lumber contains tight, sound knots throughout. A soft, relatively low-strength, straight-grained, even-textured wood. Works well with hand and machine tools, but sharp cutting edges need to be maintained to prevent tearing the grain. The wood is rarely wider than 6 due to the small size of the trees.

color of Alder
Color Range
Pale Yellow to Reddish Brown with dark knots
the Alder tree
What's The Tree Like?
A relatively small tree, reaching about 50ft in height and producing a trunk in diameter up to 15".
other names for Alder
Other Names
Alder, Oregon alder, Pacific coast alder, Red alder, Western alder
uses for Alder
Some Typical Uses
Rustic furniture, entry doors, moldings, turning, carving, toys, plywood, veneer, cabinets, musical instruments.

Lumber 101: What to Know About Hardwood Lumber

lumber random widths Random Widths
You will cut and/or glue to create the sizes you need
rough sawn vs surfaced lumber Surfaced Smooth S2S
We buy rough sawn lumber and have it surfaced 2 sides (S2S) so you're ready to work
rough sawn vs surfaced lumber Kiln Dried
We stock kiln dried lumber and store it in a protected warehouse
rough sawn vs surfaced lumber 83%+ Clear
Unless stated otherwise, we stock Select & Better graded lumber that's at least 83% clear one side
  1. Pick a wood you like
  2. Decide how much you need
  3. Give us your specs (if you have any)

This is the unit of measurement for hardwood lumber when it's bought/sold in random widths and random lengths.

Board footage is a measurement of volume, and it's abbreviated Bd. Ft.

One board foot is equal to 144 cubic inches.

board foot formula

It's a fraction that refers to rough (RGH) sawn thickness of lumber, and it tells you approximately how many quarters of an inch make up the thickness.

Surfaced lumber is thinner because it started out as rough sawn but it's been planed smooth. Planing removes thickness.

Rough Sawn (RGH) Surfaced (S2S)
4/4 ~1" 13/16"
5/4 ~1-1/4" 1-1/16"
6/4 ~1-1/2" 1-5/16"
8/4 ~2" 1-13/16"
12/4 ~3" 2-13/16"

Unless otherwise specified, our lumber is "Surfaced 2 Sides" or S2S for short.

Check out our blog for the full explanation.

lumber thickness Lumber Compared
Various lumber thickness as compared to one another

If you can cut your own pieces to size, here's how we can help:

  1. Enter requirements into the order form where it says, "Minimum Size Request"
  2. Tell us what you want to acheive or make
  3. You will receive wood that can yeild what you need. (You will create the final size)
  4. We may need to contact you for clarification

You will cut and/or join your material to create the finished sizes you need. We'll pick out wood that will give you enough to do that. For this reason, the final amount of footage you receive in your order will be slightly different, and your final billed charge will be different.

If you want to only buy pieces of an exact size, that will be sold differently. Please contact us for a custom quote.

Sadly, wood cannot be 100% guaranteed to be clear on both sides all the time. Most of our lumber is graded "Select" and better, which means it's at minimum 83% clear on one side.
Hardwood grades explained
9 Reviews
100%
Overall
4 star
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Pages 1   2
5
July 18th, 2022
Andrew
Nj
Professional Woodworker
Knotty alder 8/4
This was my first oder from WS, I have to say they far exceeded my expectations with this alder variety. It's the knotty variety but looks great, ripped very good, and is overall consistent in appearance. Will be using fir guitar building, thanks WS.
Familiarity: I haven't used it
5
May 26th, 2021
Verified Buyer
JethroNull
Springville. Utah
A Nice Piece
I only needed a small piece to complete a project. The wood sent was just right. It came with one edge a little chamfered and with bark left on. But it was well oversized so easy to cut down to what I needed. Or I could have used that edge (quite pretty). I got to choose. That's thoughtful.
5
January 1st, 2021
Chris E.
Rio Rancho NM
Hobbyist Woodworker
Better than expected
A book I have on hand tool woodworking recommended Alder for a learning wood, calling it "poor man's cherry". I found it perfect for learning to cut joints and make small boxes so far. The knots aren't as big as I thought they would be, and there is plenty of clear material in between them to work with. I picked it up earlier this year when 8/4 was going for $2.20 ish a bd/ft....another huge bonus. I was sort of shocked when I upgraded from construction lumber to "real" furniture wood on how expensive it can get. This is a good alternative, if you are still honing your skills and making frequent mistakes. I was surprised at how smooth and shiny this wood gets after using a smoothing plane on it. Much better looking than poplar, IMO, and cheaper, too. It does demand very sharp tools, which can help force you to develop good sharpening habits as well. I'll be buying more for sure. Also, one board was damaged in shipping and the folks here replaced it quickly and without anything more than a couple pictures. Great customer service!
Familiarity: I've used it in several projects
5
September 26th, 2020
Verified Buyer
Chris
PA
Exactly what I hoped for.
Ordered hoping for the best. Got better than expected.
5
April 24th, 2020
Verified Buyer
Poppy
Colorado
Very Nice 8/4 Knotty Alder
The 8/4 knotty alder lumber I received is excellent quality, and the thickness is very close to 1-15/16 inches. The planks I received look to be identical to the 8/4 knotty alder I've purchased at a local Denver supplier (Austin Hardwoods) before the coronavirus made that too risky. I expect to place further orders, but will save money by not having pieces cut to length or having one edge cut.
5
July 26th, 2019
Verified Buyer
Wyowoodsmith
Hulett WY
Professional Woodworker
Alder Knotty 8/4 Lumber
all 6' x 72" pcs were very straight, the 24" drops will be useful for smaller projects, I wish they had more knots, but "Custom" means using what is created by the Creator into my design- Nice selection, Very good quality of a "easy on tools" species
Familiarity: I've used it in a LOT of projects
Videos, Articles, and Project Photos to Help You Do Woodworking
What's 4/4, 8/4, 12/4, etc.?
Understanding hardwood lumber starts right here with these wacky fractions.
Lumber Grades Explained
If you're expecting perfect clear lumber 100% of the time, you're in for a surprise. Here's a summary of the hardwood lumber grades and what to expect from them.
3 Steps To Figure Out How Much Lumber You Need
Board feet isn't your everyday kind of math, but these three simple steps make it easy to figure out your project.
Project Planner Worksheet
Here's a handy (and free) Excel worksheet that helps you estimate the lumber needs for your project.
Understand Wood Toxicity & What You Should Do About It
Are woods poisonous? Hazardous to use in cutting boards or baby cribs? Find out here.
Wood Moves - Here's What You Need to Know
Wood is like a sponge, and it's always in a state of absorbing or releasing moisture to stay equalized with its environment. The problem with that is it also swells and shrinks. Here's what you need to know to protect your project.

Lumber Deals & Woodworking Tips

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