Frank, I assume this is local wood, right? What type of alder is it; common 'gråor' (grey alder) or 'svartor' (black alder)? The latter, less common variety sometimes has a wonderful flamed figure and has been used in some of our traditional instruments (hardingfele, langeleik) in lieu of birch or maple. It is also a priced hardwood for kitchen cabinet fronts etc. It is the denser of the two varieties. The former type is sometimes called 'Nordens mahogny’ (mahogany of the north) because it will turn to a nice golden tan color over time, but it is not very stable and quite light and not really anything like mahogany in any way except perhaps color. It grows almost everywhere here, and I think of it more as weed than wood, almost! Lousy firewood, burns like paper, about as soft as spruce or pine.
I don’t know how our alder compares to the American type, but you should not assume they are the same only because they have the same name. All our birches, maples, beeches, oaks etc are quite different from the American types.
_________________ Rian Gitar og Mandolin
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