Black Cherry vs Red Alder
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and Red Alder (Alnus rubra) are two woods people often weigh against each other. Black Cherry is the harder of the two at 950 lbf on the Janka scale, versus 590 lbf for Red Alder, which affects how each handles wear, tools, and denting.
| Property | Black Cherry Prunus serotina | Red Alder Alnus rubra |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Hardwood | Hardwood |
| Cost | $$ · Moderate | $ · Budget |
| Hardness | 950 lbf | 590 lbf |
| Workability | Excellent | Excellent |
| Seasonal movement | Small | Small |
| Outdoor-friendly | No | No |
| Origin | Domestic (North America) | Domestic (North America) |
| Commonly built | Heirloom dressers, Dining chairs, Mantels, Jewelry boxes, Carved accents | Cabinets, Electric guitar bodies, Furniture, Trim |
| Overview | A joy to work and ages into a deep reddish patina. Classic American furniture wood that rewards a simple finish. | The Pacific Northwest's go-to affordable hardwood, soft, even, and easy to work. Takes stain well and often mimics cherry. A great beginner wood. |
Finishing
Black Cherry
Famous for blotching under pigment stain, and famous for not needing stain at all: it darkens naturally to a deep reddish brown with light exposure over months, so many finishers simply apply a clear oil or wax and let time do the coloring. If you must even out or speed the color, use dye or a conditioner, never a heavy pigment stain on bare cherry. A UV-inhibiting topcoat is counterproductive here since the darkening is desirable.
Red Alder
Takes stain evenly with little blotching and is often stained to mimic cherry or walnut, which is a traditional use. Fine, even grain finishes smoothly under any finish. A cooperative, forgiving wood to finish.
Want to weigh these against a third wood, or compare different species? Use the interactive comparison tool.