Heidler Hardwood Lumber

Specie Information

Betula alleghaniensis

From sap to bark, birch trees are used to make everything from beer to toothpicks. Birchs bark can be peeled easily without harming the tree as long as the entire bark is removed. Native Americans stretched birch bark on their canoe frames and used the wood for their arrows. The birch is New Hampshire's state tree. It is also popular as an ornamental tree and has gained the nickname "Mother Tree" because birches were planted at the White House to honor the mothers of U.S. presidents. Yellow birch is the source of most birch lumber. The oil extracted from the bark contains a chemical used to treat rheumatism and inflammations.
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern U.S., principally Northern and Lake states.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Yellow birch has a white sapwood and light reddish brown heartwood. The wood is generally straight-grained with a fine uniform texture. Generally characterized by a plain and often curly or wavy pattern.
WORKING PROPERTIES
The wood works fairly easily, glues well with care, takes stain extremely well, and nails and screws satisfactorily where pre-boring is advised. It dries rather slowly with little degrade, but it has moderately high shrinkage, so is susceptible to movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The wood of yellow birch is heavy, hard and strong. It has very good bending properties, with good crushing strength and shock resistance.
AVAILABILITY
Reasonable availability, but more limited if selected for color.
MAIN USES
Furniture, millwork and paneling, doors, flooring, kitchen cabinets, turnings and toys.
RELATIVE ABUNDANCE
0.7 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available.