Quebec Wood Export Bureau

White Birch
Betula papyrifera

Colour
Sapwood is creamy white. Heartwood is pale brown.

Texture
Close grain, uniform, grain pattern similar to hard maple's, although 25% softer.

Common applications
Furniture, flooring, mouldings, millwork, turnings, ice-cream sticks.

Classification
FAS-Select
#1 Common
#2 Common

Dimensions

	FAS-Select	#1 Common	#2 Common
Width (random)	4" (100 mm) and more	3" (76,2 mm) and more	3" (76,2 mm) and more
Lenght (random)	6' (1,83 m) and more	4' (1,22 m) and more	4' (1,22 m) and more
Thickness	4/4" (25,4 mm); 5/4" (31,75 mm); 6/4" (38,1 mm); 8/4" (50,8 mm);10/4" (63,5 mm); 12/4 76,2 mm)

Physical Properties

	Hard Maple	Soft Maple	Yellow Birch	White Birch	Red Oak	White Oak	White Ash	Beech	Basswood	Aspen	Cherry	Walnut
Specific Gravity	0,659	0,545	0,608	0,571	0,612	0,676	0,613	0,667	0,417	0,408	0,551	0,594
Density kg/m³	740	610	670	640	690	750	690	750	460	450	610	660
Hardness	7290	4380	5930	4320	6170	7130	7050	6490	2140	2140	4630	5910
Bending Strenght (MP)	115	97,6	106	94,8	98,7	121	108	116	60,8	67,6	87,1	103
Stiffness (MP)	14100	11100	14100	12900	11900	15500	12800	14000	9450	11200	11900	13100

Working Properties

Hard Maple

Soft
Maple

Yellow Birch

White Birch

Red
Oak

White Oak

White Ash

Beech

Basswood

Aspen

Cherry

Walnut

Machinability

Excellent

Very good

Excellent

Very good

Excellent

Good

Very good

Good

Very good

Good

Excellent

Good

Stability

Good

Very good

Excellent

Very good

Good

Fair

Good

Excellent

Gluing

Good

Very good

Good

Very good

Excellent

Sandablity

Very good

Good

Fair

Very good

Good

Fair

Excellent

Very good

Nailability

Good

Fair

Good

Excellent

Fair

Good

Fair

Paintability

Good

Excellent

Good

Excellent

Good

Stainability

Good

Very good

Good

Very good

Good