Name

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.
Sources	Grows in Canada and northern United States.
Appearance	Straight grained with a fine, even texture. Pale-brown heartwood and creamy white sapwood.
Physical Props	Moderately hard and heavy (lighter than other birches) with moderate shock resistance, stiffness and bending strength. Poor decay resistance and dimensional stability.
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.
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.
Comments	Resembles maple and is often used interchangeably with it.

Name	*Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis)*
Type	Hardwood.
Other Names	Also known as American birch, Quebec birch, hard birch, silver birch, and swamp birch.
Sources	Grows in Canada and eastern United States.
Appearance	Straight grained with a fine even texture. Reddish brown heartwood and light-yellow sapwood.
Physical Props	Heavy, hard, strong, and stiff. High shock resistance, bending and crushing strengths. Steam-bends very well. Has low dimensional stability and decay resistance.
Working Props	Machines well but is somewhat difficult to work with hand tools. Pre-drilling required for screwing or nailing. Glues, stains and finishes well.
Uses	Excellent turning properties - used for spools, bobbins, shuttles, dowels, bowls, etc. Highly valued for plywood, paneling, furniture, and cabinetry. Other uses boxes, baskets, woodenware, cooperage, flooring, interior finish, doors, fixtures, and musical instruments.
Comments	Resembles maple and is often used interchangeably with it.

Name	*Blackbean (Castanospermum australe)*
Type	Hardwood.
Other Names	Also known as Moreton Bay bean, Moreton Bay chestnut, and beantree.
Sources	Grows in Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland.
Appearance	Typically straight grained, sometimes slightly interlocked with a coarse, uneven texture and a "greasy" feel. Narrow, chocolate-brown heartwood, often with darker streaks (turning almost black with age) and yellowish white sapwood.
Physical Props	Moderately heavy and tough with medium strength, low stiffness and shock resistance, high decay resistance, and medium movement in service. Not suitable for steam bending due to its brittleness.
Working Props	Can be difficult to machine due to minerals in wood. Turns well. Greasy nature can complicate gluing. Screws and nails well and polishes to an excellent finish.
Uses	Valued for high-end furniture, cabinetry, interior joinery, decorative veneer, carving, and turned items such as brushbacks, tool handles, dowels, and chair parts. Also suitable for switch boards and electrical fittings due to its good insulating properties.