Birch
Project Boards
Dressed Lumber
Lumber
Turning Blanks
Plywood
Edgebanding
Live Edge Slices & Rounds
Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
Pricing:
Affordable
Hardness:
1260
Janka
Distribution:
Northeastern North America
Availability:
Readily Available
Appearance
The sapwood is a creamy white colour while the heartwood is a light red/brown. You will occasionally see a beautiful lazy curl in this wood, often referred to as flame. Oil finishes will make this flame figure jump out of the surface which will draw the eye. The lack of colour distinction between annular growth rings however, gives it a somewhat boring, homogenous appearance.
Workability
Works equally well with hand and power tools, keeping in mind that figured boards will be prone to tearout. There are no concerns with glues or finishes and it also turns well.
Uses
There really isn’t much that you can’t do with yellow birch. It’s suitable for furniture, decorative objects, doors, trim, and panelling. It is also one of the most widely used species for veneer and plywood.
Additional Comments
Yellow birch is a great species to use as a secondary wood for hidden furniture components and drawer sides. Birch plywood is also a great choice for constructing frame and panel doors.
