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Paper Birch
| Name |
Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) |
| Type |
Hardwood. |
| Other Names |
Also known as canoe birch, red birch, silver birch, white birch, Canadian white birch and Kenai birch.
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| Sources |
Grows in Canada and northern United States.
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| Appearance |
Straight grained with a fine, even texture.
Pale-brown heartwood and creamy white sapwood.
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| Physical Props |
Moderately hard and heavy (lighter than other birches) with moderate shock resistance, stiffness and bending strength.
Poor decay resistance and dimensional stability.
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| Working Props |
Machines fairly well although it sometimes chips and tears during planing.
Has moderate blunting effect on cutting edges.
Excellent turning properties.
Glues, stains and finishes satisfactorily.
Susceptible to splitting - pre-drilling recommended for screws.
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| Uses |
Once used by American Indians to make canoes, now mainly used for plywood.
Other uses include turnery - spools, bobbins, dowels and novelties, crates, toys, cooperage, baskets, ice cream spoons, medical spatulas, veneer, paneling, and pulp for writing paper.
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| Comments |
Resembles maple and is often used interchangeably with it.
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