ALDER RESOURCES
Alder
Brochure
Alder Technical Bulletin
Alder Grades at a Glance
Alder
Scientific Name: Alnus Rubra
Other Common Names: Red Alder, Western Red Alder
Red Alder, native to the Pacific Northwest, has a uniform honey color with limited differences between heartwood and sapwood. Coupled with its reliable stability, it is a popular choice for both furniture and cabinetry. With a closed grain and fine texture, the rich light brown color sets during the drying process (8.5% MC) that limits darkening and yellowing over time like other species are susceptible to.
This relatively soft hardwood is easy to work with, excelling in machining and fine finishing. It stains well and can be finished in a variety of shades and colors, offering a valuable alternative for a wide array of projects. Alder’s availability in various grades allows for flexibility in design and applications – from rustic to refined contemporary pieces, aligning with the needs of both artisan craftsmen and large-scale manufacturers.
Machining
Sanding
Finishing
Gluing
Fastening
Screwing/Nailing
Quick Fact:
Alder serves as a stable-cost alternative to Poplar and Soft Maple, favored for its price reliability amidst the market volatility of other hardwoods.
What’s Alder Used For?
- Cabinetry
- Vanities
- Furniture
- Millwork
- Musical Instruments
- Moulding
Why Alder?
- Close grain, fine texture
- Uniform honey color
- Excellent finishing
- Easy to machine and process
- Strategic alternative to poplar, soft maple and more
NWH Western is available as PEFC certified, FSC Mix Credit, FSC Controlled Wood or PEFC Controlled Sources.
How Does Alder Compare To Other North American Hardwood Species?
| Lumber (12 % moisture content) | Machining | Sanding | Finishing | Gluing | Fastening/ Nailing/ Screwing | Weight per bdft | Specific Gravity (Density) | Hardness (Janka) | Bending Strength (MOR) | Bending Stiffness (MOE) | Dimensional Movement (Shrinkage) R (%) | Dimensional Movement (Shrinkage) T (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alder | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 2.45 | .41 | 590 | 9,800 | 1,380 | 4.4 | 7.3 |
| Ash | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 3.56 | .61 | 1,320 | 15,000 | 1,740 | 4.9 | 7.8 |
| Basswood | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2.50 | .37 | 410 | 8,700 | 1,460 | 6.6 | 9.3 |
| Beech | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 3.69 | .64 | 1,260 | 14,900 | 1,720 | 5.5 | 11.9 |
| Cherry | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 3.07 | .52 | 950 | 12,300 | 1,490 | 3.7 | 7.1 |
| Hickory | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4.14 | .67 | 1,820 | 13,700 | 1,730 | 4.9 | 8.9 |
| Hard Maple | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 3.73 | .64 | 1,450 | 15,800 | 1,830 | 4.8 | 9.9 |
| PC Maple | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 2.74 | .50 | 850 | 10,700 | 1,450 | 3.7 | 7.1 |
| Soft Maple | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 3.19 | .55 | 950 | 13,400 | 1,640 | 4.0 | 8.2 |
| Red Oak (Northern) | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 3.64 | .63 | 1,220 | 14,380 | 1,761 | 4.0 | 8.6 |
| Oregon White Oak | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 4.34 | .72 | 1,640 | 10,200 | 1,090 | 4.2 | 9.0 |
| White Oak (Eastern) | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 3.94 | .68 | 1,350 | 14,380 | 1,762 | 4.4 | 8.8 |
| Poplar | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 2.81 | .43 | 540 | 10,100 | 1,580 | 4.6 | 8.2 |
| Walnut | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 3.36 | .56 | 1,010 | 14,600 | 1,680 | 5.5 | 7.8 |
| Yellow Birch | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 3.53 | .62 | 1,260 | 16,600 | 2,010 | 7.3 | 9.5 |
NWH is the Alder Authority, a title earned through the pioneering commercialization, with unrivaled quality, and the unmatched commitment to showcasing the beauty and utility of alder.
Grades Available
NWH proprietary alder grades are more precise than standard NHLA grading rules. This offers better cutting yields and ultimately delivering higher value.
16 Grades Available
Alder Superior is our most flexible alder grade with the highest yield. Combines “Select & Bet...
Applications
- Cabinet and entry doors
- Casegoods
- Millwork
Alder Superior 1 Face is produced for one-face applications with front face combining “Select &...
Applications
- One-face cabinet
- Entry doors
- Casegoods
- Millwork
Alder Superior is our most flexible Alder grade with the highest yield. We’ve taken the next s...
Applications
- Cabinet and entry doors
- Casegoods
- Millwork
NWH Alder Cabinet grade lumber is graded from the worst face and is at the high end of mid-grade lum...
Applications
- Furniture
- Components
- Millwork
- Cabinets
Alder CAB grade lumber is a combination grade of (Blended) Cabinet and Custom Shop. Minimum yield is...
Applications
- Casegoods
- Drawer Slides
- Cabinets
Alder Custom Shop is graded from the best face. This mid-grade product yields clear one-face cutting...
Applications
- Drawer fronts
- Table tops
- Face frames
- Cabinet doors
- Furniture
Alder Com/#2 (Comshp2) Grade is a moderate priced product of blended clear 1 & 2 face for shorte...
Applications
- Panels
- Drawer fronts
- Picture frames
- Toys
- Chairs
- Table legs
Northwest Hardwoods Alder Com grade is a combination of COM/#2 and Standard Frame, yielding 50% clea...
Applications
- Small specialty items
- Fingerjoint applications
Alder #1 Jacket Board is a chop or rip first grade. It is ideal for cut-to-length panels for cabinet...
Applications
- Cut stock
- Chair parts
- Edge-glued components
- Upholstery rails
Alder Premium is an appearance and structural grade with scattered sound and unsound defects. Each A...
Applications
- Rustic or Distressed Cabinetry and Furniture
- Upholstery Rails
- Frame Components
Alder Premium STW is an appearance and structural grade with scattered sound and unsound defects. We...
Applications
- Rustic or Distressed Cabinetry and Furniture
- Upholstery Rails
- Frame Components
Rustic Alder is used for rustic appearance components for interior doors, millwork, and furniture fr...
Applications
- Rustic appearance components for interior doors (6/4)
- Exterior Rustic appearance doors (8/4)
- Mouldings and Millwork applications
Alder Standard Frame is a structurally sound grade designed for the upholstered and knock-down frame...
Applications
- Furniture Frames
- Rustic/Knotty Applications
- Millwork
- Doors
- Cabinet Doors
- Cabinet Drawer Fronts
- Cabinet Face Frames
Alder Econ grade 4/4 and 5/4 are appropriate for shorter frame components, core stock and finger joi...
Applications
- Frame Components
- Cabinet Face Frames
- Casegoods
- Core Stock
- Extreme Rustic/Knotty Applications
Alder Utility is any board that doesn’t meet the 33-1/3% minimum yield of a Econ board. It is used...
Applications
- Shipping Crates
- Small Finger Joint Components
Alder
