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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Alnus rubra Trade Name Red alder Family Name Betulaceae Common Names Alder, Oregon alder, Pacific coast alder, Red alder, Western alder, Western red alder Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Candlesticks, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Office furniture, Pallets, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tables , Toys, Turnery, Umbrella handles , Utility furniture, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Widespread May be rare in some parts of its range Globally secure Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant Distribution Overview Red alder is confined to the Pacific Coast region from southeast Alaska to southern California. Although there is an isolated population growing along streams in northern Idaho, it ordinarily occurs no further inland than 100 miles (160 km) at elevations below 2,500 feet (762 m). Red alder is cultivated in Hawaii. Heartwood Color Brown Red White Yellow Orange Pink Purple White to cream Reddish brown Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Whitish Turn reddish brown upon exposure Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Color not distinct from heartwood White to yellow Grain Straight Figure Even Growth rings (figure) Distinct (figure) Rippled (figure) Generally straight, but not always Rippled figure Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) Variable Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Close Fine Even textured Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Resistant to marine borers Non durable Susceptible to attack by fungi Suitable for marine applications Rapid conversion into lumber after felling is recommneded to prevent staining and decay Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules T10 - D4 (4/4); T8 - D3 (8/4) US/T10 - D4 (4/4); T8 - D3 (8/4) US Drying Defects Discoloration No surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Little degrade if dried properly Dries at a fairly rapid rate Specially developed kiln schedules and careful handling of logs and freshly milled lumber are essential in order to obtain and maintain color uniformity during drying. Varying coloration ranging from yellow to deep red, sometimes mottled, is caused by the oxidation of extractives present in the wood Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Product Sources Sawn lumber is imported into the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Continent. Trees grown in the UK are harvested at the pole stage. The timber of A. glutinosa is very difficult to defferentiate from that of A. incana . Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fair results Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Difficult to saw Gluing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent gluing properties Requires only moderately controlled conditions for the best results. Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Poor moulding results Difficult to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Medium Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Holds nails well Nails hold poorly Holds satisfactorily Good resistance to splitting while nailing Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Routing is easy Good in both routing and recessing. Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to sand Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Screwing yields good results Fair screwing qualities (expect < 70% of screwed pieces to be free from complete splits) Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling No drying degrade No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Very good Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Stains well Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Hardness (side grain) = very soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6726 10652 psi Crushing Strength 299 500 psi Density 28 lbs/ft3 Hardness 543 lbs Impact Strength 23 17 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3039 5533 psi Shearing Strength 1105 psi Static Bending 3430 5782 psi Stiffness 1403 1643 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 6 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.3