- Wood from the paper birch is used to make veneers.birch trees image by Calin Tatu from Fotolia.com
One of the most common uses for birch wood is in the manufacture of high quality veneers. Wood is harvested from the common birch tree, the paper birch, the silver birch, the river birch and the white birch among others.
Each species of birch tree has unique markings in the grain as well as barks of varying colors. Birch veneers can come in the classic pale golden shade as well as a deeper brown or an ashy hue. In addition, dark lines and streaks can give the wood a rippling look which is prized for its texture. Marks that are made by insects that bore through the wood can also be part of the grain and give character to the wood. - Logs from which veneers will be cut are first steamed in very hot water. This causes the wood to soften so that the wood can be sliced into fine wafers without any splits or tears. After the veneers are sliced off, they are pressed between flat metal plates that are heated and then bundled up to be shipped to warehouses.
You should consider the way the wood has been cut if you install birch veneer. Sometimes the wood is cut with a large grain on one side and a narrower grain on the other. To achieve a finished look, you want to match the grains of adjoining strips. - The way the wood is cut contributes to the look of the grain.bench made by wood image by Luisafer from Fotolia.com
Since birch barks come in different hues and color, birch veneers also vary in their appearance. The cut of the wood makes a difference, since some cuts can emphasize the wood grain and other cuts can make the grain appear more even.
A classic birch finish, for example, would use an even grain with no knots in the wood. For a more country or rustic look, wood grains with knots and imperfections might be chosen to give the veneer a more textured look. - Some unusual types of birch veneers include a "karelian burl." A burl is a growth on the tree which causes the grain to grow in an unusual pattern. A karelian burl is specific to birch trees and changes the normal grain from a swirl pattern to one with eyes or knots in the grain.
Other forms of birch veneer are golden birch veneer; red birch, which has little flakes that look like rays; classic birch veneer; curly birch where the grain is very strong and swirly; and spalted veneer, made from a rotten piece of birch and almost never available commercially. - Birch veneers are appropriate for uses other than furniture and countertops.
Many layers of birch veneer can be laminated together to create a product called birch ply. The many layers make the veneer very strong but pliable, and keep the product lightweight. Birch ply is used to make skateboards and model airplanes.
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