COMMON NAMES:   Red Alder

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   0.37

DENSITY:  

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   7.3%

RADIAL MOVEMENT:   4.4%

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:   12.6%

DURABILITY1:   Very poor

SOURCE:  Alder grows primarily in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington.

DESCRIPTION:   Lightweight for a hardwood, alder has a fine texture with relatively good impact resistance. Heartwood pale roseate, sapwood lighter, with fine machining, staining and finishing characteristics. Figure is similar to birch to which it is related. Poor decay resistance.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.