Knotty Alder // Alnus rubra

Knotty Alder lumber wood, Alnus rubra lumber for woodworking
"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 Knotty Alder
Color Range
Pale Yellow to Reddish Brown with dark knots
other names for Knotty Alder
Other Names
Alder, Oregon alder, Pacific coast alder, Red alder, Western alder
uses for Knotty Alder
Some Typical Uses
Rustic furniture, entry doors, moldings, turning, carving, toys, plywood, veneer, cabinets, musical instruments.
the Knotty 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".
Knotty Alder grows in North America
map of where Knotty Alder grows
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