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Birch
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Betula spp.
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| Sample is square-edged solid strip. Top portion is finished with a water-based urethane; the bottom with an oil-modified polyurethane. |
|
Birch
|
|
Betula spp.
|
|
| Sample is square-edged solid strip. Top portion is finished with a water-based urethane; the bottom with an oil-modified polyurethane. |
Appearance
COLOR: In yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis),
sapwood is creamy yellow or pale white; heartwood is light red-dish brown
tinged with red. In sweet birch (B. lenta), sapwood is light colored and
heartwood is dark brown tinged with red.
GRAIN: Medium figuring, straight, closed
grain, even texture. Occasional curly grain or wavy figure in some boards.
VARIATIONS WITHIN SPECIES AND GRADES: Yellow
birch, sweet birch, paper birch. Paper birch (B. papyrifera) is softer
and lower in weight and strength than yellow or sweet birch. However,
yellow birch is most commonly used for flooring. Boards can vary greatly
in grain and color.
Properties
HARDNESS (JANKA): 1260 (yellow); 2% softer
than Northern red oak.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY: Average (change coefficient
.00338; 8% more stable than red oak).
DURABILITY: Hard and stiff; very strong,
with excel-lent shock resistance.
Workability
SAWING/MACHINING: Difficult to work with
hand tools, but good machining qualities.
SANDING: Sands satisfactorily.
NAILING: Excellent holding ability.
FINISHING: No known problems.
COMMENTS:
Cost (relative to
plainsawn select red oak)
MULTIPLIER: 1.30
Availability
Moderately available.
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