Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/22/2007

Question
I have read here, in Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks, and elsewhere, that Alder wood is a soft hardwood.  How can that be?  Is Alder wood a soft wood or a hard wood?  I am debating between the use of Birch or Alder for new cabinets.  I have read here, and agree, that Oak of any type is not a popular choice for cabinets.  The builder has given me the choices of Oak, Birch, or Alder.  I want as hard a wood as I can get, so, please tell me a little about Alder wood.  Could it be what I am looking for?

Answer
Hi Patricia.
Nice to hear from you.
I consider both Alder and Birch to be softer hardwoods.
And certainly that can be.
Hardwood trees have leaves, softwood trees have needles (at least here in Canada. It could be different in other parts of the world)
Both alder and birch have leaves, that makes them hardwood, but just a bit softer than other hardwood.
If you want the hardest wood, its maple hands down.
If I had my choice of your 3 woods, I would choose birch..absolutely. Never maple, possible oak as a second choice. Would not choose alder, but its certainly widely used in furniture making.
So a hardwood can be soft, but if you want the hardest, its not alder.
Thanks for a great question
Regards
Eileen

Hi again Patrica
I found this interesting article I thought you would like
http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Usefulness_of_Alder_Wood.html
Enjoy
Eileen