Is Alder A Hardwood Or Softwood

Although it is classified as a hardwood it is one of the softest hardwood.

Is alder a hardwood or softwood.

Main uses furniture kitchen cabinets doors shutters moulding panel stock turnings carvings and kitchen utensils. Availability available in dimension stock and lumber. Alder is a relatively soft hardwood of medium density that has low bending strength shock resistance and stiffness. Alder is a common wood used in cabinet making.

If you re in the market for new cabinets there s a good chance you ve heard about alder wood. Well alder is a bit blotchy. This happens to be generally true but there are exceptions such as in the cases of wood from yew trees a softwood that is relatively hard and wood from balsa trees a. While there are many species of alder throughout the world the most commonly used in woodworking today is the red alder in the flooring industry hardwood harvested in north america is referred to as domestic which is less expensive than the imported.

Classifying wood as either a hardwood or softwood comes down to its physical structure and makeup and so it is overly simple to think of hardwoods as being hard and durable compared to soft and workable softwoods. Alnus alder is a north american hardwood usually found in the pacific northwest generally between california and alaska. It can be a great option for cabinets too but there are several factors to consider before making a decision about. Although classified as a hardwood alder is one of the softest of all hardwoods and is more commonly referred to as a semi hardwood.