River Birch Slabs

Birch (Betula Lutea) has light yellow sapwood and reddish brown heartwood. Once stained, the color differences are less pronounced. It has straight, close grain and a fine, even texture.    Birches often form even-aged stands on light, well-drained, particularly acidic soils. They are regarded as pioneer species, rapidly colonizing open ground especially in secondary successional sequences following a disturbance or fire. Birches are early tree species to establish in primary successions and can become a threat to heathland if the seedlings and saplings are not suppressed by grazing or periodic burning. Birches are generally lowland species, but some species, such as Betula nana, have a montane distribution. Birch has light yellow sapwood and reddish brown heartwood. Once stained, the color differences are less pronounced. It has straight, close grain and a fine, even texture.    Birch works fairly easily with hand and power tools. Moderate dulling effect on cutters. Curly or disturbed grain wood requires reduced cutting angles. Glues well. Takes stain and polish extremely well. High bending and crushing strength. Very good steam bending characteristics. High shock resistance.    Its uniform, dense surface, free of large groups of pores, make it an unequaled base for white enameling. Curly grained or strongly figured varieties are marked in the UK as "Canadian Silky Wood". Botanical Name Betula nigra Origin Eastern United States Janka Hardness 970 lbf Average Dried Weight 37 lbs/ft3 Workability Easy to work with hand and machine tools, boards with wild grain can tearout during machining operations. Turns, glues, and finishes well. Related Species Alaska Paper Birch (Betula neoalaskana) Alder-leaf Birch (Betula alnoides) Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) Gray Birch (Betula populifolia) Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) Silver Birch (Betula pendula) Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)