crafts
turning and furnishings
Woodturners generally love Birch as it is tight grained and with minimal knots. It's wood is unlikely to chip or crack while being turned. Birch is a great wood for making small items from turning. Birch will turn well green or kilned.
construction carpentry
Birch is used in some parts of construction where it is not required to support anything heavy duty, such as heavy roofs. Birch is quite a popular wood for log cabin building, and smells very pleasant and relaxing to be within.
other crafts
Carpenters like to use Birch to make furniture and shelves. It is usually the least expensive hardwood available as well as providing the comfort of knowing that it is a local raised wood.
Some folks have problems staining Birch, so items made with birch are often painted. However, if you master the staining skills it requires, then Birch can appear very beautiful in its near natural form.
For more natural protection and appearance, Birch wood responds very well to beeswax polishing.
to read about Birch as a fuel in the hearth, please click here