Alder loses a vast amount of weight when it dries. Its ok to turn, bit it doesn't take a particularly good finish or hold detail especially well, and the biggest buggerance is that it's so lightwieght and feels insubstantial. Not a particularly great burner either.
That is why it's my stated mission in life to erradicate the species from the planet. God was clearly recovering from a good weekend when he came up with alder. It's crap as a timber and crap as a tree - its the last in to leaf in the spring, it doesn't change colour in the autumn and drops soggy mouldy green leaves which never seem to dry out and blow away, they just lie there in a thick wet pile. I suppose the odd bird on welfare handouts might be grateful for an alder but I'm glad to see you've joined in the cause in your part of the planet Bob.
Save it for the fire - it will help make up the numbers if you use it in a mix of logs. If you have a fire with just alder logs - expect to be cold.
Do you get the impression I don't like alder?
