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 [VIEW MAP]
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
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Irregular | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Mottle | ||||||||||||
| Variable (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 | English |
| Bending Strength | 8472 | 16572 | psi |
| Density | 41 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1205 | lbs | |
| Impact Strength | 29 | 40 | inches |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3594 | 8173 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2027 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1509 | 2024 | 1000 psi |
| Work to Maximum Load | 13 | 18 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Weight | 40 | 40 | lbs/ft3 |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 595 | 1165 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 657 | kg/m3 | |
| 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 |
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