Solid alder furniture - advantages and care features

Features of alder wood

Alder, like any other material, has specific uses.

1. Some types of alder wood are very valuable due to their unique rich red color, which appears long after being cut.
2. The most common types of wood are gray and black alder due to the color of their bark.
3. Wood does not crack or warp, and therefore can be installed in the kitchen or even in the bathroom.
4. If this wood is used for exterior decoration or if it comes into contact with the ground, it is prone to rotting.
5. During contact with metal and high humidity, solid mahogany furniture becomes covered with corrosion or gray spots.

Some manufacturers consider this wood to be an unsuitable material for making furniture. But the advantages of this wood “speak” the opposite. With proper care, items can be preserved for many years.

We recommend viewing photos of alder furniture so that you can evaluate the features of this type of wood:

Part 3. Alder: practicality, economy, benefit

We, ordinary people, want to use trees in our dacha in a way that makes it beautiful, useful, and cheap. It’s worth mentioning at least briefly about these three components in using alder, because there simply isn’t enough space for information! It should be remembered that different types of alder have similar properties despite all the obvious external differences (I consider green alder as an exceptional case).

You can read more about the types of alder in the first part, and about its medicinal properties in the second part of the story about alder.

I heard from specialists, and also from rural residents and summer residents, that it is impossible to cut down alder trees near springs, river banks, and where groundwater is needed. Otherwise the water will go away. And it’s not surprising: the roots in the upper layer with nitrogen-fixing bacteria “work” constantly, and if you remove this pump tree, the water will dry up. The Finns speak of alder roots as those that “grow grass.” And we say: “Alder is a heap of hay.” But if you drain the alder, there will be the best land for cucumbers, as well as other garden crops. Remember this, Summer resident!

If you want to grow cucumbers on dry alder, then use the advice of the “cucumber king and queen” of our website - Valery and Tatyana.

Alder blooms in early spring (flowering times differ for different species). It is a pollen-bearing plant, very useful for beekeeping. It is at the beginning of the alder dusting, according to a centuries-old tradition, that the beekeeper should begin to set up hives.

Black alder blooms in April-May, gray alder in March-April (2-3 weeks before black alder), green alder in May-June.

In spring, bees collect pollen on alder trees and resinous secretions on buds and leaves, from which they then produce propolis. Gray and black alders provide a lot of pollen, which is used to feed the bees even before they bloom. They do it this way: cut off the ends of the branches, place them in a warm sieve on sheets of paper. As soon as the anthers open, shake the pollen through a sieve onto paper. Then they make a mixture of pollen with honey, sugar syrup and give it to the bees.

In the spring, even fish eat alder pollen from the surface of the water.

Some fishermen therefore huddle closer to the alder in the spring, because there will be more fish here. This is considered a sign, but, as you can see, it has a basis. But for me, a person predisposed to allergies (hay fever), this pollen is clearly not to my liking, because in some people it can cause an allergic reaction.

Green alder can be eaten by sheep, as mentioned earlier. But the leaves of black and gray alder are also used to feed sheep and goats. The tops of branches with buds in winter are suitable as food for black grouse and hazel grouse. Alder seeds are good food for granivorous birds.

It is believed that alder can be used in the fight against mole crickets and mice. Tatyana and Marina have already written about the course of battles between summer residents and mole crickets and mice on the website.

From the bark and fruits of alder one can obtain tannins and dyes for wool, leather, fur, coarse and silk fabrics (yellow, red, black). Brown dye is also obtained from the buds. In the old days, fishermen soaked their nets in a decoction of bark, which became rotting and camouflage.

Vera once wrote about the use of alder wood in a useful post about cooking meat with alder wood.

Alder firewood burns well, however, the heat cannot be retained by coal (the calorific value is not high - 2064 kcal/kg). Russian peasants burned birch soot from chimneys with alder firewood. In the Russian “black” bathhouse, alder was used because the smoke from alder wood did not eat away at the eyes.

Interestingly, alder can be used to produce drawing coal and gunpowder, but alder shavings can be used for fruit packaging. I learned another use for alder shavings quite recently when I came across articles about smoking. It turned out that sawdust and alder shavings have long been an advertised top product for smoking fish.

Surprisingly, these shavings are recommended not only for smoking fish, but also meat, poultry and cheese. So, if possible, smoke our traditional products and be sure to give the recipe in the recipe competition that is taking place on our website!

Previously, when the pig mushroom was still considered edible, mushroom pickers wandered into the alder forests, but now animals like to live in these forests, for example, beavers, who use alder as a building material.

This season, I picked russula for a friend from the alder forest, since I myself am not very fond of them. And in the alder forest you can still see green mosswort, prickly raincoat, white podgrudok, thin pigwort, and pink mosswort.

But on alder waste you can grow mushrooms, for example, oyster mushrooms, summer and winter honey fungus, and shiitake. Sometimes grain is added to sawdust. Alder often suffers from tinder fungi and stem rot, which confirms the suitability of its wood for growing mushrooms.

An interesting fact is that when alder is cut down, its wood turns red and then turns pink. The wood of the tree contains gum. Pink color is characteristic of the wood of black and gray alder, although in gray alder it is lighter.

But the Slavic legends on this matter say that a long time ago the devil competed with God and tried to make a wolf out of clay or wood, but did not revive it. And God made the wolf come to life and attack the evil one. And he, hiding on the alder tree, still could not save his heel, the wolf bit her. Blood flowed from it and stained the alder. In another version of the legend, God created a sheep, and the devil, out of pride, created a goat, and dragged it by the tail to show off. The goat ran away and hid on the alder tree, and the tail remained in the paws of the evil one, staining the alder tree with blood. I like both options, after all, we love the triumph of Good!

Alder wood is not resistant to rotting in air, and is rarely used in external work. When underwater, it becomes resistant, like oak wood. At the dacha, it can be used to make a well frame, a gutter, piles - exactly the same as in Venice! Where contact with water is inevitable, it is worth trying it.

But when making furniture, alder is one of the most popular materials. I'll tell you a story about alder wood. Someone was buying furniture, and the seller was advertising a product made from apple wood. It turned out that it was alder. In general, alder is also disguised as walnut or cherry.

I think the seller will not risk selling it under ebony wood: the price will obviously be low! :) If alder wood is steamed, then bent furniture can be made from it. Even the wood of alder burls is highly valued.

Alder is a rather large tree, but in certain conditions it is a godsend for the owner of a summer cottage, especially in the vicinity of water. My friend has an alder tree growing on the shore of a fire pond bordering her property. I don’t know whether the tree will be cut down or not, but a table under a tree on the shore of a pond in the heat is the dream of almost all summer residents.

Another argument for using alder in plots is its tolerance for poor, gravelly soils, even though it won't look perfect as long as the soil is moist. Gray alder can be used on less rich substrate. You are unlikely to find green alder, but residents of Siberia and the Far East can also experiment with local alder species by planting them adjacent to their plots, on the banks of reservoirs.

The area of ​​use of alder is quite wide, but I think it is better if you use it in natural habitats. Just look at the nearby forests and plantings, and if you catch your eye, it means you can try to grow it in your area. It is better, however, to use its decorative relatives or local species. Raspberries and currants coexist with alder in the forest, and I think this neighborhood can be experimentally “transferred” to our own territory.

Black alder lives 50-60, and sometimes 150-300 years, gray alder - up to 100 years, so if you plant it now, you will please future generations, leave a memory and a mark on the Earth.

Pros and cons of alder furniture

The pros and cons of alder furniture are contradictory. For example, some types of wood are very expensive, which is why alder furniture will cost a pretty penny. For some this will be a minus, but for true connoisseurs of the elegant color of alder furniture it will not matter. Before purchasing a headset, we recommend that you carefully consider your purchase and study both its strengths and weaknesses.

Advantages of alder furniture

Alder is an environmentally friendly natural material, allergies to which are excluded.
This solution is appropriate for children's rooms, when a small, fragile organism needs special protection and care. In addition, alder as a material for furniture production has many other advantages: The advantages of this wood include the following:

• homogeneity of the material;
• softness, which allows you to make furniture from alder of any complexity;
• quick drying without cracks or loss of original appearance;
• density and silkiness of the structure, allowing the production of carved furniture from solid wood;
• the ability to replace one of the elements of the product in case of damage to alder furniture;
• alder wood is supported by any fasteners;
• wood can be stained, and products made from it can be polished and varnished without damaging the structural pattern;
• wood after processing looks like more expensive wood, this allows you to create luxury furniture from solid wood at an “attractive” price;
• the cost of the material is low, since wood is easy to extract, and in some respects it is not inferior to other wood materials, such as pine, birch, beech;
• wood has a positive effect on painting with any colors, so you can create exclusive and original alder-colored furniture in the interior;
• the natural color of the wood is pleasing to the eye, great for children;
• alder does not absorb odors;
• the wood can imitate more expensive wood species, such as beech.

The main advantage of the material considered is its moisture resistance. Thanks to this quality, wood is suitable for the manufacture of many types of products.

Disadvantages of alder furniture

There are not so many of them to focus attention on them. But still, our task is to provide you with complete information about this array, from which you may be planning to order furniture.

Here are the three main disadvantages of alder furniture:

• the ability to rot in case of poor-quality external finishing - order furniture only from reliable companies that care about quality;
• low strength and elasticity - because of this, difficulties may arise in the manufacture of sets with complex design solutions; most likely, craftsmen will refuse you if you have a complex sketch;
• capriciousness in furniture production - in addition to low elasticity and strength, alder can crack and requires careful and lengthy sanding.

This may not be an ideal option for making furniture for some, but everyone is motivated by their own individual preferences.

We invite you to view stylish photos of alder furniture in the interior:

Reviews and ratings

Reviews on the use of alder wood for finishing baths, making furniture and interior doors are mostly positive, since it lasts a long time if handled correctly. If you additionally treat it with special compounds, you can use the boards even in the construction of various fences and utility buildings.

Based on all the information, the following ratings can be given to wood of this type:

• Environmental friendliness - 5 points. High indicators are maintained even with a serious temperature difference, and this can already be assessed highly;
• Price - 5 points. In terms of quality and price, alder can be considered an ideal material;
• Practicality - 4 points. It is expressed in a wide range of applications, since wood can be used both to create toys and for decoration. The point should be lowered only because over time, even with good initial processing, the wood may begin to rot if it comes into contact with the ground, iron or cement;
• Appearance - 5 points. This indicator is simply excellent, which is reflected in the fact that alder, when combined with different types of processing, is able to imitate more expensive species;
• Ease of production - 5 points. Quite widespread.
• Labor intensity during use - 4 points. Very easy to use, but nails cannot be used, which results in a lower score.

What types of furniture are made from alder

Carved solid wood furniture is very popular among buyers. This includes alder kitchen furniture and bedroom sets. From wood, our specialists produce patterned fronts for cabinets and bedside tables, as well as twisted headboards. Alder is popular for making living room furniture.

Alder can replace plastic products, as well as finishing tiles. Therefore, wall and floor cabinets for the bathroom are made from this wood. Benches in baths and saunas are mainly made from this wood.

The material has also become widespread in the creation of country tables and chairs. It is not advisable to use them on “open” land, but you can install them in a gazebo. With proper care, tables and chairs made of wood will last a long time.

This wood species is most often used for children's rooms. They make multi-colored cabinets and chests of drawers from it, as well as beds in the shape of cars, rockets and animals.

Wood components can be held on with glue. This makes it possible to create products with decorative details. For children's and playrooms with similar additional details, boxes for toys are purchased. Cabinets and walls in the living room sometimes amaze with their beauty and scale. At the same time, they are not heavy and environmentally friendly.

The Derevyagino company with great pleasure produces luxury furniture from solid alder, both standard and individual designs.

Look at the photo to see how original and fresh alder furniture looks in the interior:

Crafts from branches for interior decoration

Natural materials in the interior always look beautiful and impressive. There are a lot of uses for wooden materials in an apartment or house. Wooden items will look great as a separate element or complementing any furniture and supporting the overall style of the interior.

Photo frame

In order to make a photo frame, you will need a solid base for the frame, a glue gun or simple glue, branches of the same length, decor as desired:

• As a base for the frame, you can use a regular photo frame without decoration, or you can cut the base out of thick cardboard or fiberboard.
• The branches must first be cleared of bark, uneven surfaces must be sanded, and if necessary, the branches must be coated with paint or clear varnish.
• Glue the branches one by one along the entire perimeter of the frame, lengthwise or crosswise.
• After the base has completely dried, you can optionally decorate the frame with additional decor, for example, cones, beads or ribbons.

In this way you can decorate a frame of any shape and even a large picture frame.

Vase

To make a vase decorated with branches, you will need a base for the vase, the role of which can be played by a glass or plastic jar. You also need to prepare branches slightly longer than the base, glue or a glue gun.

The branches must be cleared of bark in advance and, if desired, covered with the desired color or transparent varnish. It is better that the base of the vase does not stand out in color; for this you can paint it in a neutral color or wrap it in paper.

The branches are alternately glued tightly to each other in a circle. After drying, you can tie them with ribbon or jute thread.

Wreath

To make a wreath you will need thick wire and flexible branches or twigs. If desired, you can use paint or other decorative elements.

The wire must be bent into a ring with the diameter of the desired final product. Gather the branches into bundles and secure them along the entire diameter of the wire, forming a wreath.

You can decorate a wall or door with such a wreath, and if you decorate it with pine cones and artificial snow, you will get a Christmas option.

Caring for alder furniture

To ensure longevity, solid alder furniture must be properly cared for. Wood has operating conditions that must be observed.

It is characterized by mechanical damage. To avoid chips and scratches you should:

• The furniture surface should be wiped with damp rags made from special soft fabrics;
• Avoid hitting products with sharp objects;
• correctly distribute the load on the product, when installing a heavy object on it, ensure a large contact area;
• To protect the surface when installing other objects on it, use special cork backings.

When cleaning solid alder furniture, it is prohibited to use chemicals. Wood is water resistant and has a negative attitude towards cleaning substances. Black spots appear on its surface. If it is necessary to disinfect the surface of the product, you can use a soap solution.

Solid mahogany furniture also reacts negatively to rising temperatures. Avoid exposure of sunlight to the surface of furniture made from this wood. It is forbidden to place hot dishes on a “bare” surface. For these purposes, it is necessary to use special stands. This condition must also be met when installing heating electrical appliances.

Optical properties

Alder is a type of wood in which the heartwood and sapwood do not differ in color. The wood is reddish-white, reddish-yellow to light reddish-brown, darkening when exposed to light. Freshly cut wood appears bright orange-red due to oxidation, but this color disappears as the wood dries. Wood contains a large number of fine fibers scattered along the pores. Wood rays are weakly expressed and appear in a cross section as inconspicuous spots. However, often the wood rays are connected in lines and are then more clearly distinguishable. The boundaries of the growth rings are poorly defined, but on denser and less porous latewood the growth rings are clearly visible. Color spots are common on wood.[2] Gray alder wood is similar to black alder, but is slightly lighter, has finer grains and is more shiny.[3]

Alder furniture in different rooms

Solid alder furniture is most often installed in the kitchen, hallway and bathroom. Children's rooms are also often furnished with furniture products.

Alder furniture has such important characteristics as naturalness and environmental friendliness. For decorating a room where a child spends time, alder is the most suitable material.

Entire kitchen sets made from this type of wood are installed in the kitchen. With proper care they will last a long time. Alder can be used to create multifunctional kitchen sets. The material allows you to reproduce a convenient set of cabinets, as well as produce stylish facades for them.

Among kitchen furniture made of alder, corners have become widespread. Often during production we combine the transformation function in them. This way, a compact seat can be turned into a full-fledged sleeping place. Light wood allows you to transport a piece of furniture to the bedroom.

Alder is a favorite type of wood, as it allows us to produce exclusive solid wood furniture at attractive prices. For this purpose, individual design and dimensions of the product are used. Buyers have the opportunity to order products according to their desired parameters.

Beds for bedrooms are usually made from alder. Their cost is low. The strength of the wood is sufficient for this product. We pay great attention to the reliability of the design, so you don’t have to worry about durability. But the main thing is that alder is an environmentally friendly material, which has a beneficial effect on sleep.

Alder is a worthy material for making furniture. Wood is inexpensive, so products made from it are also low in cost. This type of wood is water-resistant, which allows you to install alder furniture in the kitchen and bathroom.

We recommend looking at the combination of alder-colored furniture in the interior using the photos presented in our article:

Many types of products are made from the material according to the customer’s design, which you can view in the Derevyagino catalog.

Ideas for original crafts for the home

Crafts can be not just beautiful decor, but also functional interior elements.

Decoration of lamps and fixtures

Branches and twigs can perfectly decorate the lampshade of a table or ceiling lamp. It is more convenient to use lamps with a cardboard or paper lampshade, which is covered in a circle with branches of the same or different lengths.

Due to the uneven surface and imperfect shape of the branches, the light will fall very beautifully on the walls.

Clothes hanger

If there are snags and massive branches with knots in the forest, you should not pass by. From such branches you can build a convenient and functional hanger. You need to take two straight branch guides and fasten them across the branches with knots on which you can hang clothes, keys, an umbrella and other small items.

Decorative tree

To make a decorative tree you will need an armful of branchy branches, glue, a pot, polystyrene foam and stones. Foam plastic is placed at the bottom of a pot or other base, into which branches are stuck so that the impression of a tree is visually created.

The pot is filled with stones from top to top. Depending on the time of year, such a tree can be decorated with various objects - hearts, butterflies, snowflakes, pine cones.