Facts
about the European birch.
Scientific
Name
Betula pendula
Trade Name
Silver birch
Family Name
Betulaceae
Common Names
Birch
Common birch
Silver birch
Warty birch
White birch
Regions of Distribution
Eastern Europe
Mediterranean Sea Region
Western Europe
Countries of Distribution
Finland
Norway
Russia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Common Uses
Agricultural implements
Boat building (general)
Boat building
Boxes and crates
Brush backs & handles
Brush backs & handles
Cabinetmaking
Canoes
Chairs
Cooperages
Dowells
Flooring
Flooring: industrial heavy traffic
Furniture
Handles: general
Joinery
Plywood
Posts
Spools
Tables
Textile equipment
Toys
Turnery
Vehicle parts
Veneer
Wooden shoes
Environmental Profile
** Questionable
* Abundant/Secure
* Status has not been officially assessed
Distribution Overview
Native to all Britain and to west and central Ireland. Also through
most of Europe and parts of Asia. This tree tolerates a wide range
of habitats, soil ph 3.5 to 7 but best on dry sandy soils and up to
higher altitudes than most broadleaved species. Upland birchwoods
are an important ecotype in Scotland.
Heartwood Color
*********+ Brown
********** Yellow
****** Orange
***** Green/grey
** Red
***** White to cream
**** Pale brown
* Very light brown
* Red
The timber of B. pendula is very similar in characteristics to that
of B. pubescens
Sapwood Color
**** White
* Green/Grey
* Yellow
**** Color not distinct from heartwood
Grain
*********+ Straight
********* Interlocked
******* Wavy
** Closed
** Birds-eye (figure)
** Even
* Figure
* Rippled (figure)
* Wavy
* Variable figure
* Mottled or streaked figure sometimes
* Grain deviates
* Distinct and fine figure
Grain deviation, especially at base of boles, is reported to produce
a variety of figures which are sometimes used as names for the wood.
Thus, the wood is sometimes called Ice, Flame, etc., according to the
figure displayed. Another type of birch wood, Masur birch, is produced
from wood attacked by the larvae of the Agromyzia carbonara beetle.
Small brown pith flecks caused by the attack produce an attractive
flecked and swirling figure which is highly prized for veneers for
panelling and marquetry.
Texture
*********+ Fine
*** Even or uniform
** Uniform
*** Fine
* Fine and even
Luster
** Lustrous
Natural Durability
*********+ Very durable
*********+ Resistant to marine borers
********* Resistant to termites
****** Durable
*** Susceptible to insect attack
** Moderately durable
** Resistant to powder post beetles
* Non-resistant to termites
*** Perishable
* Susceptible to attack by fungi
* Sapwood is vulnerable to attack by furniture beetles
* resistant to powder-post beetle
* Non durable
Odor
***** Has an odor
* No specific smell or taste
Toxicity
* Some toxic effects
Kiln Schedules
****** Drying (speed) is fast
*** Dry at a moderate speed
* UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6
* UK=F (4/4)
Drying Defects
********** Checking
******* Splitting
* Distortion
** Slight twist/warp
* Moderate twist/warp
* Distortion (twist/warp) is likely
Distortion is a common degrade in both air-seasoning and kiln drying
Ease of Drying
*** Variable
** Slowly
** Thick Stock Requires Care
* Requires special attention
* Shrinkage Green to12% MC
* Rapid drying is recommended to avoid fungal attack
* Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7%
* Easy
Kiln Drying Rate
** Naturally dries slowly
* Naturally dries at a moderate speed
* Slow
* Drying rate is slow
Tree Size
******* Tree height is 20-30 m
***** Tree height is 0-10 m
***** Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
**** Bole length is 0-10 m
*** Tree height is 10-20 m
* Bole length is 10-20 m
* Tree height is 30-40 m
Boles of Birch trees in the British Isles are often crooked and irregular
since they are usually found in mixed stands
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
*********+ Moderate
* Blunting effect on sawing is moderate
Boring
****** Fairly difficult to very difficult
** Fair to good results
* Fairly easy to very easy
* Worked surfaces are woolly
* Responds well to ordinary tools and other machining operations
Cutting Resistance
** Easy to saw
* Moderate to saw
* Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
* Surfaces tend to be woolly
* Cross-cutting and narrow bandsawing tends to be moderate
Gluing
******* Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
* Good properties
* Easy to glue
Mortising
******* Fairly Easy to Very Easy
** Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Moulding
******* Fairly Easy to Very Easy
*** Fair to Good Results
** Very Good to Excellent Results
* Good finishing results
Movement in Service
*********+ Excellent Stability - Small Movement
** Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
* Stable
* Small
Nailing
******* Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
*** Pre-Boring Recommended
* Pre-boring recommended when nailing close to edges of material with
irregular grain
Planing
***** Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
*** Fairly Easy to Very Easy
** Very Good to Excellent Results
** Fair to Good Results
* Wood tends to be woolly
* Requires reduced cutting angle
* Planes well, to a good finish
* Ease of planing is moderate
A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees has been recommended to prevent
irregular grain around knots and cross-grain from tearing.
Resistance to Impregnation
*********+ Resistant heartwood
**** Resistant sapwood
*** Heartwood is permeable
* Sapwood is permeable
* Perservative treatment works well for posts
* Heartwood is moderately resistant
Response to Hand Tools
******** Easy to Work
** Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
***** Easy to machine
** Moderate working qualities
Routing & Recessing
**** Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Sanding
**** Fairly Easy to Very Easy
** Very Good to Excellent Results
** Fair to Good Results
Screwing
** Pre-boring recommended
Turning
********* Fairly Easy to Very Easy
******* Fair to Good Results
** Very Good to Excellent Results
**** Good results
* Very good
* Easy to turn
Veneering Qualities
*** Difficult to veneer
* No drying degrade
* Suitable for peeling
* Various figures can yield decorative veneers
Steam Bending
****** Fair to Good Results
**** Poor to Very Poor Results
*** Good
* Moderate
Material free from pin knots and irregular grain is reported to bend
well, but these features are regularly present in Silver birch
Painting
*** Fair to Good Results
Polishing
********* Fair to Good Results
** Very Good to Excellent Results
*** Good results
** Satisfactory results
Staining
*** Fair to Good Results
* Very Good to Excellent Results
*** Finish is generally good
* Staining properties are good
* Lack of color and figure are useful for staining to match other woods
* Finish is generally satisfactory
Varnishing
*** Fair to Good Results
* Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Strength Properties
**** Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
* Heavy
* Hardness = medium
* Density = high
* Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high
* Bending strength (MOR) = very high
Strength properties are comparable to those of European beech (Fagus
). Seasoned Silver birch is similar to Ash (Fraxinus ) in toughness
Numerical Data
Item--------------------------------------------- Green -----------------Dry
Metric
Bending Strength ------------------------595 -------------------1165
kg/cm2
Density ----------------------------------------------------------657
kg/cm3
Hardness --------------------------------------------------------546
kg
Impact Strength -------------------------73 ---------------------101
cm
Maximum Crushing Strength ------------252 ---------------------574
kg/cm2
Shearing Strength ------------------------------------------------142
kg/cm2
Stiffness --------------------------------106 --------------142 1000
kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load ------------------0.91 ------------------1.26
cm-kg/cm3
Weight ----------------------------------641 --------------------641
kg/cm3
References
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 6 Europe,TRADA, Red Booklet
Series
Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1937,A Handbook of Home-Grown
Timbers,HMSO
HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer.
Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes
Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
HMSO. 1985. Broadleaves. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 20. Text by
H.E. Edlin. Revised by A.F. Mitchell. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's
Stationery Office, London.
Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co.
Ltd. London 3rd ed.
Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard
Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London.
Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products
Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Spersedes Bulletin No. 45). Ministry of
Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.
Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc.
Fresno, California
Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American
Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.
Nairn, P.M., Editor. 1936. Wood Specimens - 100 Reproductions in Color
- A Series of Selected Timbers Reproduced in Natural Color with Introduction
and Annotations by H.A. Cox. The Nema Press, Proprietors of Wood, London.
Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition.
Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp.
Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower
Technical Press
T.D.A.,1942,Timber Leaflet No.69 Birch,TRADA Timber Leaflet
