What to do with alder wood?

[settlefish-90]

I have some alder trees on my land in Oregon, about 10–12 inches thick. A storm last winter knocked a few down, so now I got a pile of wood to figure out.
Never used alder before. I usually make small furniture and do carving. Is alder good for that, or should I just use it for firewood? Thanks for any advice!

 

[thewoodholder]

Alder is actually a nice, workable wood though, its soft enough to carve easily, takes stain well, and it's often used in furniture and cabinets

 

[countryfrench_66]

Nice! I had a few alder logs from a windfall on my property last year. Gave them a shot for carving and small shelves. It's softer than oak but works great with sharp tools.

If the wood's not too twisted or cracked, I'd say mill a few pieces and test it out before tossing it in the fire pile. What kind of furniture do you usually make?