Birch

About this product

Trade Names:

Birch.

Origin:

Europe and Asia up to about latitude 65 north.

Range:

Important stands for the veneer industry are in Finland where it sometimes appears in it’s most valuable burl veneer form often called Karelian Birch. There are large occurrences in Russia. Only pure stands occur in these countries whereas in Central European forests Birch trees are found standing scattered or in groups.

Uses:

Greater significance as peeled Birch for furniture and panel industries (popular wood for bedrooms in the fifties). Also used for table and chair production. Very popular for architectural woodworking in it’s burl form.

Properties:

The color is yellowish white but the logs often have brown hearts when mature. Birch wood has a low resistance to weather and is very susceptible to fungi and insect attack. Really clean logs, free of defects are seldom found. Figured wood is frequent, much in demand and sold as Ice Birch. The diameters of this specie rarily exceed 40cm, limiting it to be rotary peeled in veneer form.

Machining:

Birch machines easily and well with all tools. Planed surfaces are very smooth.

Seasoning:

Birch must be dried very carefully and slowly because of its tendency to check and warp.