Hey, has anyone else seen a trend for Knotty Alder cabinets and mill
work?

I lease space in a commercial cabinet shop and a lot of wht I am seeing
them build lately is out of Knotty Alder. When I saw the raw case work
I wasn't all that impressed but when the came bqack from the finish
shop with just a clear coat I really like what I see.

The raw wood looks kind a tanish but when it's clear coated it has some
darker brown tendencies along with some yellowish Pine sorta qualities.

I think I might have to build some pieces from this stuff and try some
darkened/glazed/antiqued finishes to see what I can get.

Anyone know how this stuff is to work with. The guys in the cabinet
shop just buy the doors and molding and mostly just build boxes so they
can't tell me much.

I've been working on a job for a customer finishing out his knotty alder
doors for his new house. He bought them at our local building supplier
about 3 years ago and is now close to being done with his house. I've
stained them and will start spraying them tomorrow, first with sealer then
with lacquer. Just the stain ( a mix of 2 Minwax colors ) has really
brought out the beauty of the wood. I can forsee a beautiful patina on them
in a couple of years if not sooner. They already have a nice glow. I
puttied the cracks in the knots, then sanded with 120 grit before staining.

I don't know how much of a "trend" there is for knotty alder but here in the
Great Northwest, alder is considered a weed and is readily available for a
decent price. I can imagine alder cabinets would look awesome.

Will

"SonomaProducts.com" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hey, has anyone else seen a trend for Knotty Alder cabinets and mill
work?

I lease space in a commercial cabinet shop and a lot of wht I am seeing
them build lately is out of Knotty Alder. When I saw the raw case work
I wasn't all that impressed but when the came bqack from the finish
shop with just a clear coat I really like what I see.

The raw wood looks kind a tanish but when it's clear coated it has some
darker brown tendencies along with some yellowish Pine sorta qualities.

I think I might have to build some pieces from this stuff and try some
darkened/glazed/antiqued finishes to see what I can get.

Anyone know how this stuff is to work with. The guys in the cabinet
shop just buy the doors and molding and mostly just build boxes so they
can't tell me much.

it's been the rage here in the southwest for at least 5 years. that's about
all you see in custom homes.

regards,
charlie
cave creek, az

On 24 Feb 2005 16:31:10 -0800, "SonomaProducts.com"
wrote:

Hey, has anyone else seen a trend for Knotty Alder cabinets and mill
work?

I lease space in a commercial cabinet shop and a lot of wht I am seeing
them build lately is out of Knotty Alder. When I saw the raw case work
I wasn't all that impressed but when the came bqack from the finish
shop with just a clear coat I really like what I see.

The raw wood looks kind a tanish but when it's clear coated it has some
darker brown tendencies along with some yellowish Pine sorta qualities.

I think I might have to build some pieces from this stuff and try some
darkened/glazed/antiqued finishes to see what I can get.

Anyone know how this stuff is to work with. The guys in the cabinet
shop just buy the doors and molding and mostly just build boxes so they
can't tell me much.


the wood's pretty soft.

In article ,
says...
I don't know how much of a "trend" there is for knotty alder but here in the
Great Northwest, alder is considered a weed and is readily available for a
decent price. I can imagine alder cabinets would look awesome.

I like alder, although it is a little soft for table tops. I haven't
used any knotty stuff. And I hope there's no "trend", because I like
the current pricing :-).

I'm currently drawing up the plans for an entertainment center of alder
with flame birch panels in the doors. And yes, that violates the "too
soft for tabletops", but in a house with one retired couple, the
entertainment center shouldn't take much of a beating :-).

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

Thanks all. I've been working with the cheapest Pine I can find and
having some real fun with it so I think the Alder will be a nice
diversion.

Alder is like working with poplar. Sears has been using it for kitchen
cabinets for years.
RJ
"SonomaProducts.com" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hey, has anyone else seen a trend for Knotty Alder cabinets and mill
work?

I lease space in a commercial cabinet shop and a lot of wht I am seeing
them build lately is out of Knotty Alder. When I saw the raw case work
I wasn't all that impressed but when the came bqack from the finish
shop with just a clear coat I really like what I see.

The raw wood looks kind a tanish but when it's clear coated it has some
darker brown tendencies along with some yellowish Pine sorta qualities.

I think I might have to build some pieces from this stuff and try some
darkened/glazed/antiqued finishes to see what I can get.

Anyone know how this stuff is to work with. The guys in the cabinet
shop just buy the doors and molding and mostly just build boxes so they
can't tell me much.