Birch: Domestic Hardwood

Birch lumber is classified as a domestic wood and is sometimes referred to as Grey Birch, Silver Birch, Hard Birch, American Birch, or Betula Wood.

Birch has a reddish-brown heartwood and light yellow sapwood. Birch has very good steam bending characteristics, high shock resistance, and crushing strength.

It can be used for furniture making, flooring, and high-grade joinery, upholstery frames, paneling, high-grade plywood, and veneers. Birch glues well and also takes stain and polish extremely well; once stained, any color differences are less pronounced.

Birch has a Janka hardness of 1260.

Domestic Hardwood: Birch Wood

Characteristics

Origin of Wood TypeThe U.S. and Canada
Botanical NameBetula Alleghaniensis
Specific Gravity.55
Avg. Weight Per BF3.5 lbs
Color RangeLight cream to brown heartwood
Rarity / AvailabilityCommon
Typical Avg. Width4 – 10 inches
Typical Avg. Length8 – 12 feet
Avg. Waste Factor25%
Wood UsesAll woodworking and cabinetmaking applications
Lumber GradesFAS through 2 common
Other Trade Names Yellow Birch, Birch, or White Birch

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