Birch Lumber - A Domestic Hardwood

In North America, birch wood has such high commercial importance. The two most popular species of all the birches are yellow birch and red birch. Both are grown particularly in eastern Canada and northeastern United States. They have such similar characteristics that sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between the two types.



Although they have similarities, both yellow birch and red birch have distinct coloring that set them apart from each other. Yellow birch (also referred to as Betula Lutea) is taken from the yellow birch tree, which reaches 80 feet in height and a diameter of 2 feet. It has whitish, pale yellow or light reddish brown sapwood and the heartwood is light to golden-brown to light reddish-brown. The bark of the yellow birch tree is yellow-gray or straw colored. Diversely, red birch (also referred to as Betula Lenta) is taken from the red birch tree, which attains heights of 50 to 60 feet and a diameter of 2 feet. It has light colored sapwood and heartwood that is dark brown with red tinges. The bark of the red birch tree is blackish-red in color. However, don’t be fooled by the bark of the yellow and red birch trees because they are both aromatic and have the flavor of wintergreen.



The wood of yellow birch and red birch is heavy, hard, and strong. Both types score 1260 on the Janka hardness scale. That’s over 4 times harder than basswood and roughly 3 times harder than poplar. They are dense hardwoods that have straight, closed grains and fine, uniform textures. Equally, they have high bending and crushing strengths. Birch also has good steam bending characteristics and high shock resistance. Both species take stains, polishes, and finishes well. They have good machining properties, by working easily with hand and power tools. Both birches have good nail holding capacities, and good resistance to splitting. However, they both have durability issues when it comes to moisture. They are prone to decay in moist conditions, but can be readily treated with preservatives.



Woodworker, Tom Elberson, is very familiar with working with birch wood.



"I have experience using birch wood for cabinets, trim work, and boxes. It is a nice hard wood that has even, closed grains. I prefer to use a clear coat on it, instead of paint, because it adds depth to the wood and it shows off its natural beauty."



The qualities of birch wood make it the perfect choice for any project. Yellow birch and red birch are used extensively for furniture, flooring, interior doors, cabinetry, and woodenware. They are also used for paneling, veneers, and plywood. It is also a popular wood for turning.



With the availability of domestic hardwood lumber, it is easy to choose the wood that’s right for you. Birch wood has the qualities you look for in commercial lumber, including the range of colors present in the different species.



Discover Birch wood specs that will help ensure you choose the right hardwood for your next wood turning, or flooring project.