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Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Betula pendula Trade Name Silver birch Family Name Betulaceae Common Names Birch, Common birch, Silver birch, Warty birch, White birch Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Mediterranean Sea Region, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Finland, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Cooperages, Dowells, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Joinery, Plywood, Posts, Spools, Tables, Textile equipment, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wooden shoes Environmental Profile Questionable Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Native to all Britain and to west and central Ireland. Also through most of Europe and parts of Asia. This tree tolerates a wide range of habitats, soil ph 3.5 to 7 but best on dry sandy soils and up to higher altitudes than most broadleaved species. Upland birchwoods are an important ecotype in Scotland. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Green/grey Red White to cream Pale brown Very light brown Red The timber of B. pendula is very similar in characteristics to that of B. pubescens Sapwood Color White Green/Grey Yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Closed Even Irregular Wavy Distinct (figure) Mottle Variable (figure) Wavy Variable figure Mottled or streaked figure sometimes Grain deviates Distinct and fine figure Grain deviation, especially at base of boles, is reported to produce a variety of figures which are sometimes used as names for the wood. Thus, the wood is sometimes called Ice, Flame, etc., according to the figure displayed. Another type of birch wood, Masur birch, is produced from wood attacked by the larvae of the Agromyzia carbonara beetle. Small brown pith flecks caused by the attack produce an attractive flecked and swirling figure which is highly prized for veneers for panelling and marquetry. Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Fine and even Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Durable Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Perishable Susceptible to attack by fungi Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles resistant to powder-post beetle Non durable Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 UK=F (4/4) Drying Defects Checking Splitting Distortion Slight twist/warp Moderate twist/warp Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Distortion is a common degrade in both air-seasoning and kiln drying Ease of Drying Variable Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Shrinkage Green to12% MC Rapid drying is recommended to avoid fungal attack Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Slow Drying rate is slow Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Boles of Birch trees in the British Isles are often crooked and irregular since they are usually found in mixed stands Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on sawing is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Worked surfaces are woolly Responds well to ordinary tools and other machining operations Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Surfaces tend to be woolly Cross-cutting and narrow bandsawing tends to be moderate Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good properties Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Small Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Pre-boring recommended when nailing close to edges of material with irregular grain Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Wood tends to be woolly Requires reduced cutting angle Planes well, to a good finish Ease of planing is moderate A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees has been recommended to prevent irregular grain around knots and cross-grain from tearing. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Perservative treatment works well for posts Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Very good Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer No drying degrade Suitable for peeling Various figures can yield decorative veneers Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Good Moderate Material free from pin knots and irregular grain is reported to bend well, but these features are regularly present in Silver birch Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally good Staining properties are good Lack of color and figure are useful for staining to match other woods Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Heavy Hardness = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Strength properties are comparable to those of European beech (Fagus ). Seasoned Silver birch is similar to Ash (Fraxinus ) in toughness Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8472 16572 psi Density 41 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1205 lbs Impact Strength 29 40 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3594 8173 psi Shearing Strength 2027 psi Stiffness 1509 2024 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 13 18 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 40 40 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 595 1165 kg/cm2 Density 657 kg/m3 Hardness 546 kg Impact Strength 73 101 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 252 574 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 142 kg/cm2 Stiffness 106 142 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.91 1.26 cm-kg/cm3 References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown Timbers,HMSO HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. HMSO. 1985. Broadleaves. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 20. Text by H.E. Edlin. Revised by A.F. Mitchell. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Spersedes Bulletin No. 45). Ministry of