 Alder-leaf Birch (B. alleghaniensis pictured)
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Common Name(s): Alder-leaf Birch Scientific Name: Betula alnoides Distribution: Burma, India, and Nepal Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-3 ft (.6-1.0 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 33 lbs/ft3 (530 kg/m3) Hardness: 830 lbf (3,690 N) Rupture Strength: 8,980 lbf/in2 (61,920 kPa) Elastic Strength: 1,235,000 lbf/in2 (8,520 MPa) Crushing Strength: 6,400 lbf/in2 (44.1 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 5.0%, Tangential: 7.0%, Volumetric: 13.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.4 |
Color/Appearance: Heartwood tends to be a light reddish brown, with nearly white sapwood. Occasionally figured pieces are available with a wide, shallow curl similar to the curl found in Cherry. There is virtually no color distinction between annual growth rings, giving Birch a somewhat dull, uniform appearance.
Grain/Pore: Grain is generally straight or slightly wavy. Pores are closed, with a fine, even texture
Durability: Birch is perishable, and will readily rot and decay if exposed to the elements. The wood is also susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: Generally easy to work with hand and machine tools, though boards with wild grain can cause grain tearout during machining operations. Turns, glues, and finishes well.
Scent: There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.
Safety: Birch in the Betula genus has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include skin and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price/Availability: Likely to be rather economical in most instances. Figured boards can be more expensive, but normally plain birch lumber is in the same price range as maple or oak.
Comments: Birch is one of the most widely used woods for veneer and plywood worldwide. Besides regular sheets of plywood, Birch veneer is also used for doors, furniture, and paneling.
Some other common uses for Birch include: boxes, crates, turned objects, interior trim, and other small specialty wood items.
Scans/Pictures: There are currently no pictures of this exact wood species, but a similar species within the Betula genus is being substituted (B. alleghaniensis). If you’d like to contribute a wood sample of this specific species to be scanned, (even small pieces of veneer can be sent), please use the contact form.
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Yellow Birch (sanded) |
 Yellow Birch (sealed) |
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