Red alder - how long until punky?

[Cynnergy]

Hello all,

Just wondering if my fellow rainforest dwellers know if alder will go punky even if it's C/S/S and under cover/stored in a woodshed?

We have several on our property that we'd like to clear, but we could take down one or two a year if it's just going to rot once down and processed.

 

[pen]

If it's cut, split, stacked, and covered, you should be good for years and years. In a woodshed where it won't see any moisture (as opposed to outside top-covered stacks) it should last decades.

pen

 

[Cynnergy]

Excellent, thanks pen. I just read a lot on here about how punky alder gets and it was making me nervous - don't want to go through all of that work for nothing!

Now we just have to make the woodshed big enough...

 

[pen]

Excellent, thanks pen. I just read a lot on here about how punky alder gets and it was making me nervous - don't want to go through all of that work for nothing!

Now we just have to make the woodshed big enough...

I missed that you are on the coast. Are you right on the coast, or inland a bit? Spray type breezes?

However, at the end of the day, if it's dry, it'll stay dry.

 

[Highbeam]

If it is really dry, in a woodshed dry, then it will last forever. They make cabinets out of alder these days. Red alder is excellent firewood.

 

[peakbagger]

Definitely must be a different species out east called 'alder', in my area it grows in after a clear cut and gets about 3 or 4 inches in diameter than dies off. Its usually too small to split and rots quick even under cover.

 

[dougstove]

In the east (maritimes) alder was thought to be the hottest possible firewood, used for blacksmithing if they could not get coal.
But it does rot standing within its own bark.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Just remember to stack it off the ground and keep it top covered. If you can dry it outdoors before moving it into a shed, you have no worries about rotting wood. It will keep for many years.

 

[Cynnergy]

Thanks for the input everyone! Yes, our alder here is a pioneer species and comes in after clearcuts, disturbance, etc. Most of them grow too crowded and die out quite quickly, but those that do survive can get quite big. We have several on the bank in front of the cabin that are at least 2 ft in diameter, but they must be getting to the end of their lifespan and we're worried that when they go, they'll take out the bank with them.

If they were a bit easier to get to 'market' I'd try to sell them for furniture or flooring, but it's not really feasible. Too bad, they're beautiful trees.

We are right on the ocean, but I'm not really worried about salt spray - the wind blows by the cabin rather than towards it (usually). Rain though, is definitely an issue, especially if it is raining sideways . Summer is usually pretty dry and sunny, so I might try wide top-covers over this winter, then uncover them for the summer before putting them in the shed before the first rains next year.