Woodipedia: Is It Cherry or Is It Alder?
Stains have made it very easy to color one type of wood to make it look like another kind. But there are two species of wood that really do look alike in their raw state: cherry and alder. Here’s how to tell the difference.
When you think of a cozy country kitchen, most likely you are envisioning warm-colored cherry cabinets. “Cherry was one of the most popular cabinet woods in rural areas throughout the country, because it was so widely distributed across the United States,” notes Andy Richmond, vice president and certified appraiser at Garth’s Antiques in Delaware, Ohio.
Yet there is another wood species that features a milder version of cherry’s reddish tones and grain patterns. Alder is affectionately referred to by woodworkers as “poor man’s cherry.” With a coat of finish, it can easily pass for cherry to less-discerning eyes.
Cherry basics. When we speak of cherry, we are really referring to black cherry — Prunus serotina. A distinctive element of most cherry wood is gum spots, or pitch pockets. They’re short, black streaks that look like hardened resin deposits.
Sometimes cherry has pin knots — tiny brown circles that again add visual interest. High-end cherry is figured, meaning undulating rays of light seem to shoot across the grain, lending the board a shimmering depth. This radiant effect is called chatoyance.
Alder basics. Commonly known as red alder, Alnus rubra grows principally in the Pacific Northwest, where it is the most commercially abundant hardwood. The consistent grain pattern and quiet coloration of alder is polarizing. Some people like it for exactly that reason, while other people find it boring. Alder can have pin knots, but it doesn’t have gum spots.
You’ll sometimes hear references to clear or knotty alder, but those are just general descriptions. “That’s not a grade,” says Walt Maas, manager of Bohnhoff Lumber in Vernon, California. “There are industry standards for grading lumber — like there are for grading meat. Each type of wood has its own specifications that professional hardwood lumber graders follow.”
This makes it easier to compare prices when shopping. However, Maas notes that some companies put their own proprietary grades on lumber, which makes comparison shopping more difficult.
Continue reading Woodipedia: Is It Cherry or Is It Alder?
When you think of a cozy country kitchen, most likely you are envisioning warm-colored cherry cabinets. “Cherry was one of the most popular cabinet woods in rural areas throughout the country, because it was so widely distributed across the United States,” notes Andy Richmond, vice president and certified appraiser at Garth’s Antiques in Delaware, Ohio.
Yet there is another wood species that features a milder version of cherry’s reddish tones and grain patterns. Alder is affectionately referred to by woodworkers as “poor man’s cherry.” With a coat of finish, it can easily pass for cherry to less-discerning eyes.
Cherry basics. When we speak of cherry, we are really referring to black cherry — Prunus serotina. A distinctive element of most cherry wood is gum spots, or pitch pockets. They’re short, black streaks that look like hardened resin deposits.
Sometimes cherry has pin knots — tiny brown circles that again add visual interest. High-end cherry is figured, meaning undulating rays of light seem to shoot across the grain, lending the board a shimmering depth. This radiant effect is called chatoyance.
Alder basics. Commonly known as red alder, Alnus rubra grows principally in the Pacific Northwest, where it is the most commercially abundant hardwood. The consistent grain pattern and quiet coloration of alder is polarizing. Some people like it for exactly that reason, while other people find it boring. Alder can have pin knots, but it doesn’t have gum spots.
You’ll sometimes hear references to clear or knotty alder, but those are just general descriptions. “That’s not a grade,” says Walt Maas, manager of Bohnhoff Lumber in Vernon, California. “There are industry standards for grading lumber — like there are for grading meat. Each type of wood has its own specifications that professional hardwood lumber graders follow.”
This makes it easier to compare prices when shopping. However, Maas notes that some companies put their own proprietary grades on lumber, which makes comparison shopping more difficult.
Continue reading Woodipedia: Is It Cherry or Is It Alder?
