Color "alder" - one of the most popular

Alder - a kind of trees and bushes of the Berezovye family, which unites about 50 species. In Russia, grow nine of them.

A The real distribution of wood in our country is the regions of the Urals and Western Siberia, as well as the North Caucasus.

The most important for the national economy is the Black Alder (Alder sticky, or European). Trees reach a height of about thirty meters, the diameter of the trunk can reach 60 cm. The bark of the tree is dark brown with cracks. The freshly cut tree is white. Under the influence of air, the color of alder changes to a darker one (dark yellow or yellow-red). The texture of the wood has a fairly homogeneous structure. The core and sapwood of wood do not differ in color. In order to show an interesting picture of alder, it must be treated with a transparent varnish or stain. After that, the color of alder acquires a more noble, and is able to imitate expensive wood species.

According to the international standard DIN 4076, the wood of black alder has a short designation "ER". In terms of strength, alder is in no way inferior to coniferous species, but it exceeds linden and aspen.
Alder wood has a high resistance to water, which has been widely used in underground and underwater construction. For example, alders create piles that hold the foundations of most of the structures in old Amsterdam. Alder wood has also become widespread in the national economy.

Alder - wood, which is in demand. It is in demand in the production of furniture, as it is capable of mimicking the structure of mahogany. Today, the fashion for alder comes back, so many manufacturers began to make furniture boards from it.

Alder wood is also used in other areas. It produces charcoal, bark used for painting leather and fur products. Cones are widespread in folk medicine. Alder wood is ideal for carving. It is perfectly handled both manually and on lathes, so alder has become widespread in the manufacture of a variety of household utensils: from handles for mops to frames for paintings and photographs.

Alder is also used for the manufacture of veneered or planed veneer . Color "alder" - one of the most popular for home furniture. Polishing, varnishing of such furniture will not cause any special trouble, it is easy to take care of.

It should be remembered that in the case of contact between wet wood and iron, the color of the alder changes: dark spots appear on it. Iron at the same time rusts. Also for alder, contact with cement is harmful: wood deteriorates and loses its properties. In other respects, alder wood is quite unpretentious in care and resistant to external influences.

Because of their wide application, various species of alder are rapidly cut down, so it is included in the Red Books of Kazakhstan, Moldavia, Omsk Region and the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature - it is endangered species.