Birch (Betula spp.)

(Left-Oil based / Right-Water based finish)
Appearance: Color: Sapwood is creamy yellow or pale white in yellow birch; heartwood is light reddish brown tinged with red. Sweet birch has light colored sapwood and heartwood is dark brown tinged with red.
Grain: Medium figuring, straight, closed grain, even textured. Occasional curly grain or wavy figure in some boards.
Availability: Moderately
Properties:
Hardness:1260 Janka Table, 2% softer than Northern red oak.
Durability: Hard and stiff; very strong.
Workability: Sawing: Good machine tools, difficult with hand tools. Nailing: Excellent
Sanding: Satisfactorily
Finishing: No known problems