Replies

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 06, 2003 09:18am | #1

   patrick

      First and foremost, I am not a cabinet-maker by trade. Are you doing this for a commercial job or for your-self?

      Alder is easy to work with, but finishing is touchy as it is similar to poplar. Can get splotchy if you don't take the appropriate steps to counter. I am not aware of Alder plywood. I did look on three price sheets here in the Atlanta area of hard-woods and cabinet ply suppliers and none listed it. That doesn't mean it's not available in other areas though.

      I again am not a cabinet-maker (sure some will lend a hand here), but I would be hesitant to use the alder. The only option I would have for the ply would be birch or maple which are tight grains. I think it would be extremely difficult to match finish.

      Hopefully some of the "cab" guys and gals can lend a helping hand here. I would also be curious to see what they say. I might learn something new. ha..ha..

   Best fo luck...

   sarge..jt

2. 
   BobSmalser | Nov 06, 2003 10:09am | #2

   I'm typing this on a Red Alder tabletop as I speak....I cut thousands of BF of it.  A fast-growing leguminous pioneer species out here in the Pac NW.

   It's a substitute.....can be stained to match cherry w/o blotching (test your stock and apply a washcoat of light shellac if necessary, first)  and the figure is almost identical...but it's much softer.

   After staining, apply CPES (epoxy sealer) to it for a harder finish......

   Smith & Co.
   5100 Channel Avenue
   Richmond, CA 94801
   (510) 237-6842

1. 
   migraine | Nov 06, 2003 09:21pm | #7

   Can you give a little more input on the use of an epoxy sealer on alder?  This would make using it in the kitchen feasible, especially with three kids running around  Inquiring minds want to know...

1. 
   BobSmalser | Nov 06, 2003 09:51pm | #8

   Talk to the supplier...it's used regularly now in boatbuilding...I haven't tried it yet for finish work, just rough work for sealing with a home brew of thinned epoxy similar to CPES.....it's basically a low-strength fairing epoxy diluted in solvent...probably acetone...but it sets up hard and is easy to sand....not as easy as a sanding sealer, but close.

   Edited 11/6/2003 3:14:07 PM ET by Bob

3. 
   JackLindsey | Nov 06, 2003 11:35am | #3

   When Cherry hit $6+/bf I said to heck with it and bought a couple hundred bf of alder at $2.30/bf. Have completed two projects with it, a quilt rack and a credenza, and am delighted with the results. It machines well and is easy to sand. I also did some bent laminations for the credenza and had no problems. I used gel stain and had no splotching problems. The only drawback is the softness of the wood. It "dings" easily.

   I have the finished pieces next to a cherry entertainment unit and it is difficult see a significant difference between them.

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 06, 2003 06:07pm | #4

      I have alder available readily here in Atlanta. It is not used as much as poplar as a substitute. I have used it on a few projects that were all alder. As long as you prep it like poplar, it will stain properly.

      Bob, None: If you were using ply for the cabinet sides, what ply would be best suitable to try to get a match? With poplar, birch and maple will get close with a little work with the stains. What's your take on the alder, or have you just used it alone?

   Thanks as I might try some alder soon...

   sarge..jt

4. 
   notDusty | Nov 06, 2003 06:25pm | #5

              Patrick ,         Yes Alder plywood is produced in 3/4" and also in 1/4".However there is not a tremendous savings in price, it is nice but spendy.As an alternative I have used Alder with Red Birch veneer plywood,especially for a clear finish the grain patterns are very compatible. If your supplier will let you pick thru the natural Birch plywood and pull the sheets with the most red color.This will cost less than graded Red Birch.You can easily stain Alder with a reddish stain to emulate Cherry.IMHO gel stain does produce nice colors but never again would I use it on a large scale project with detail .Staining a shelf or a small piece of wood is much different than frame and panel doors and more detailed items ,that are harder to wipe evenly. good luck            dusty

5. 
   forestgirl | Nov 06, 2003 07:21pm | #6

   There's not too much to add to all these experts' advice up above, but I can say that I fell in love with alder after one project! (its softeness is a consideration though).  As far as blotchiness goes, given that cherry is used as one of the prime examples of blotch-prone woods in finishing books, and at least once a year there's a magazine on finishing cherry "blotch-free," it's hard to believe alder is signficantly worse, LOL.

   On my project, I wanted a very dark (walnut-like) finish, so using a shellac sealer coat wasn't working well.  I used a gel-stain and the wood finished beautifully.  Seems like with a large-surface project, spraying would be the ultimate solution, unless your color-goal permitted the shellac washcoat.

   If you have Jeff Jewitt's "Great Wood Finishes" or can browse through it at your local big-bookstore place, go to page 96 -- he gives 3 different techniques for avoiding splotching on cherry and provides color plates to show the differences.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/6/2003 11:23:36 AM ET by forestgirl

6. 
   Mackwood | Nov 06, 2003 11:26pm | #9

   Patrick,

   Years ago, a friend of ours built a new house including kitchen cabinets.  We went to the housewarming and he asked me (knowing I was into woodworking) what kind of wood I thought the cabinets were.  I took one look and said "cherry".  It was alder and looked great!  m2cw

   Mack

7. 
   Sancho | Nov 06, 2003 11:27pm | #10

   If you are under contract to make a cabinent out of Cherry and you substitute the material with a "lower cost alternative" with out your clients knowledge then if your client finds out gets upset, then you might find yourself in front of judge judy. But if its for yourself it will work just fine and yes they make a alder ply.

    

   Darkworksite4:

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