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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Betula pubescens Trade Name Black birch Family Name Betulaceae Common Names Black birch, Common birch, English birch, European birch, Finnish birch, Glasbjork, Silver birch, Swedish birch, White birch Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Finland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Cooperages, Food containers, Furniture, Handles: general, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Heartwood Color White Green/grey White to cream Pale brown Sapwood Color White Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Fine Fine Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Perishable Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Easy Tree Size Tree height is 50-60 m Product Sources Birch is available in large quantities, but the three leading commercially valuable birches, Yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis), White birch (B. papyrifera), and Sweet birch (B. lenta), are often mixed and marketed together under the trade name Birch. Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes well Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult The moulding finish is usually good Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Possible if prebored Holds satisfactorily Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Steam Bending Good Moderate Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Satisfactory results Good results Staining Finish is generally good Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11442 17761 psi Density 40 lbs/ft3 Impact Strength 34 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5408 8171 psi Stiffness 1511 1745 1000 psi Weight 39 31 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 804 1248 kg/cm2 Density 641 kg/m3 Impact Strength 86 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 380 574 kg/cm2 Stiffness 106 122 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 624 496 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown Timbers,HMSO Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.69 Birch,TRADA Timber Leaflet