Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
Family: Betulaceae
Common names: American birch, Betula wood, Birch, Black birch, Canadian silky wood, Canadian yellow birch, Curly birch, Gold birch, Gray birch, Hard birch, Quebec birch, Silver birch, Swamp birch, Yellow birch
Distributed in: Canada, United Kingdom, United States (North America, Western Europe)
Distribution overview: The range of yellow birch extends from southern Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Anticosti Island, the Gaspe peninsula, and Maine west to southern and southwestern Ontario and Minnesota; south to northern New Jersey, northern Ohio, extreme northern Indiana and Illinois; and south in the mountains to South Carolina, extreme northeastern Georgia, and eastern Tennessee. Reported to grow in Northern Europe and Northern Asia. It is a very hardy tree.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Bobbins, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Butcher blocks, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Charcoal, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Cutting surfaces, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Fixtures, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hardwood distillation, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Marquetry, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Packing cases, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Toothpicks, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative
Product sources: The ITTO reports that timber production from this species is negligible. It is exported in low volumes.
Environment profile: Widespread
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Colors: the heart isRed, Reddish brownand the sapwoodWhite, White to yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureFine and evenand the lusterLow
Natural durability: Very little natural resistance, Will deteriorate rapidly in wet conditions without chemical protection
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: UK=G US=T8B3/T5B1
Drying Defects: Moderate twist/warp, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Rapidly
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: Little
Boring: Very good results
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Moderate gluing properties
Mortising: Finishes satisfactorily
Moulding: Moulding ease is moderate
Movement in Service: Moulding ease is moderate
Nailing: Possible if prebored, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Requires reduced cutting angle
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Sanding: Fair sanding qualities
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Steam bending: Very good
Screwing: Screwing yields satisfactory results, Very Good to Excellent Results; Turning: Good results
Painting: Good; Polishing: Good; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Good;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,5 |
0,57 |
|
Density |
|
673 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
620 |
1094 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
29 |
66 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
499 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
119 |
134 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
121 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
106 |
132 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
6 |
|
% |
Weight |
673 |
512 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,91 |
1,26 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
632 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
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kg/cm2 |
|
| | | | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 8825 | 15571 | psi | Crushing Strength | 421 | 951 | psi | Density | | 42 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1102 | lbs | Impact Strength | 47 | 53 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 4358 | 8127 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1734 | psi | Stiffness | 1510 | 1882 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 549 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 13 | 18 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.5 | 0.57 | | Weight | 42 | 32 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 6 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 17 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Hardness (side grain) = soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (impact Strength) = high Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness (total work) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Heavy Hardness = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = low
Work to Maximum Load = very low
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