Have you worked with Alder? How did you like it?

Hi Chris, If you will look at my projects you will see lots of Alder. It has been the in thing for several years now. The problem now is that with all the interest in Alder, the price has gone pretty high.It used to be the cheapest of the hardwoods. Knotty Alder has quite a following here in the West. It works pretty easy and finishes any way you want. It will look like cherry, or Maple or close to walnut depending on the stain you use.The kitchen in my projects is all Alder with a cherry stain. Great wood, very versitale.

-- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon

Hi Chris, I built a cabinet for a friend of mine for his big screen TV using Alder, he wanted to use the same wood his builder used for the kitchen cabinets in his new home. I loved working with Alder and it was my first time, it reminded me a lot of working cherry. Stable, machines well, and easy to use hand tools on, relatively soft for a hard wood. Haven’t bought any in a while, so I’m not sure what the price is here in West TN area now, Rick

-- Rick, Union,KY firstlightwoodworking.blogspot.com

I don’t know about the price there either. Here in the Boise, Idaho area the last I got was $4.74 for 4/4 and that was the 500 foot price. Fifteen years ago it was about $1.40 when oak was at $3.25. It has really become popular.

-- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon

Thanks for the replies to my question! I have read a little about Alder and seen a few projects but had never gathered any opinions…....Here In Iowa Price-wise I think about $5.50 bf but it is hard to grasp the whole pricing thing anyway – At the local supplier fo instance, you pay $6.86 for 8/4 Douglas Fir (Clear) and in the next rack you will pay $7.06 for 8/4 Hard Maple – I recently completed a laminated top for a workbench and really was torn between Hard Maple and Douglas fir and had I bought it there, it would have been Maple for sure….as fate would have it before I made a decision, I was in the local Big Box store and they had a rare rack of very straight and clear Douglas Fir 2×10’s and even had them on sale at $5.99 each, well, $60.00 later and a little time at the table saw left me with enough lumber to laminate a very usable top that is 3” thick 30” wide and 72” long. but back to the Alder question…..I have been considering a dresser made from Alder and if it holds up well in the kitchen then the dresser should be fine.

Thanks So Much!

-- So Much Wood - So Little Time! --