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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Betula alnoides Trade Name Banutis Family Name Betulaceae Synonyms Betula acuminata Common Names Banutis, Bhuj, Bhujpattra, Chambar maya, Dingleen, Haoul, Haur, Hlosunli, Indian birch, Kunis, Layang, Maksheri, Payan-utis, Payong, Phiypattra, Puya udish, Puzala, Sauer, Saur, Saver, Shag, Shagru, Shaul, Sheori, Utis Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Burma, India, Nepal Common Uses Boxes and crates, Furniture, Heavy construction, Light construction, Plywood, Turnery Environmental Profile Endangered Heartwood Color Brown Red White Yellow Orange Pink Purple Black Green/grey Tan Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Grain Even Straight Figure Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine Fine Fine to medium Luster Low Medium High Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Durable Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to marine borers Durable Moderately durable Odor Has a taste Toxicity Drying Defects Distortion Checking Resin Exudation Splitting Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Gum Exudation Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Rapid Naturally dries at a moderate speed Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 50-60 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is 0-10 m Bole length is 30-40 m Bark width is 0-5 mm Tree height is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 350-400 cm Product Sources The tree is rather common throughout its growth range because its nut is harvested as a crop. The timber lacks any unique or outstanding features to warrant a high price on the international market. It is therefore not common on the European or N. American market. The timber is, however, a potential source of lumber for very large projects since it is capable of producing clear, very wide and very long boards. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Painting Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Strength Properties Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Volumetic = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Hardness 995 lbs Impact Strength 27 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1775 psi Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Hardness 451 kg Impact Strength 68 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 124 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols Sekhar, A.C., Gupta, V.K.,1963,A note on the strength of Betula alnoides from West Bengal,Indian Forester 89(7) pp465-7