Alder wood.

[Paul.J]

Any good :?:
I got a couple of logs of it a few weeks ago,so was just wondering if anyone as any experience of turning it,and what it's like.

 

[John. B]

Paul,
I've just been sent some twigs from my inlaw in the north, (Durham) who asked can I turn pens with it.
When I do, I'll let you both know. :lol: :lol: :roll:

John.B

 

[tekno.mage]

Hi,

I roughed a small piece of alder (2" x 2" x 12") recently to see what it was like & vaguely thinking of making it into a tool handle. It turned well & cut easily & cleanly but seemed rather soft (bit like sycamore but with coarser grain) for a handle so I put it aside until I come up with another use for it. I've also got a large alder bowl blank I've not got around to as yet. Neither of the blanks I have are particularly interesting in the way of figure, but I think the bowl blank will make a decent large bowl. I've not tried finishing any alder as yet, so can't comment on it's properties there.

tekno.mage

 

[Steve Blackdog]

Fender stratocasters are made from alder.

 

[Anonymous]

There you go Paul...turn a stratocaster :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Argee]

It's very light in weight, so turns easily. Downside is that it suffers from more end-grain tear-out than many other species.

Ray.

 

[Jenx]

Only done two bits Paul ... small, slightly spalted pieces, and I found also, very 'light' .. and they were slightly punky in areas ... I've photo's somewhere.. will try and look them out for you.

Agree on the ease of 'tearout' observation too ... these two were a bit tricky to get any kind of finish on.

Will see if I can find the piccies 8)

 

[wizer]

On my first night at Woodworking Club I was given a piece of Alder to turn. It almost became a box :roll: However, it was nice wood IIRC. Like oak but not as awkward or dusty.

 

[duncanh]

Like oak but not as awkward or dusty.

I'd say that it was nothing like oak - it's very light in weight and not particularly dense. Having said that, I've never turned it dry so it's cutting properties may perhaps change.

I found it needs very sharp tools to get as good finish as possible, so as to reduce sanding to a minimum - because the wood is so soft it's easy to over sand in places.
Bark retention for natural edge bowls was excellent.


17cm largest diameter


19cm largest diameter

Duncan

 

[Paul.J]

Thanks everyone.
I will put a piece on soon and see how it goes.It was the bright red colour that caught me eye on the end grain,when i saw them.
Duncan i hope mine turn out as well as those pieces

 

[user 5053]

Alder is a superb turning wood and goes a reddish orange colour if turned wet and white if turned dry. It often has irregular shaped trunk and branches and very good for natural edged bowls and various other things. It is very good for demonstrating. You tend to find a lot of it washed up on beaches at it grows in wet conditions along river banks etc. In a previous life I was a tree nurseryman and we grew acres of it and was amazed how fast it grew.
Alder was also used for making soles of clogs and shoes etc because of its strength to weight properties and there is someone on the country fair circuit doing them.