Alder, any uses apart from firewood

[Stihlben]

I've just been to look in some of the woodland I work in to view the trees which have been marked for felling and there are two 24"dbh alder, with a nice bit of burr in the lower sections, nices and straight.

Normally most of the timber in this woodland goes for firewood but it seems a waste to log up a couple of decent sized trees.

What uses are there for alder and is its worth milling???

It's only about 10m from the road so can be easily extracted.

[Big Beech]

good for Clogs, and water side revetment work.

[roseyweb]

Beavers like it

[Stubby]

Solid electric guitar bodies . Fender Telecaster / Stratocaster etc etc ...

[Essexlogman]

The Rialto bridge in Venice used "alder piles" ten Venetian feet long, driven down to the buon terreno (good ground), according to Antonio del Ponte in 1588, seems they have lasted pretty well so maybe as Venice is apparently sinking they might need a few replacement piles? might have to wait a few centuries for any repeat business though!

[armchairarborist]

Fish plank, put a fish on a alder plank and bung it in the oven, it's supposed to flavour the fish or something, I'm not the cooking guy so maybe research it first yourself

[mrstumpy]

The long very straight stems are used to make some sail masts.

The larger diameters can decay in the middle (as I'm sure you are aware) rendering them u/s.

[Gnarlyoak]

Charcoal made from Alder use to be used to make gunpowder, when ground down it make a very fine powder apparently.

 

But don't try this at home, as you may be arrested and charged under the terrorism act.

[cornish chough]

Mill it and see - it has cracking markings especially burred or spalted .Dries quickly too

[spiral]

Historically in Scotland it was a favourite for country dinner tables , they used to soak it in limed water first thought to keep the woodworm out.

 

The other side of that is some English timber yards would saw alder planks & leave them around the yard for a year, before burning them, re cutting more for the following year, ad on infinitum , to try & reduce insect/beetle attack in other more popular timbers.

 

Because Woodworm love Alder even more than, Beach, cherry or elm.

 

If un rotted at 2ft diameter, with tight burr they should make great planks for table tops, Better than clogs or charcoal!

 

Pics would be good!

 

spiral