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Silver Birch

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homeofwood:
Hi fellow turners... I have a chance of getting a huge amount of silver Birch.. Im a bit in 2 minds if to take the chance on it,, I know it can be turned into good looking bowls etc... But also know it goes soft and roots quickly,, point im asking do you turners like to turn silver birch.. or should i give it a miss. Have some huge sizes up to 24inches wide..

Bryan Milham:
I've been turning Paper Birch (spalted) lately, an American version of the Sliver Birch. And then of course there is the Masser Birch so beloved of turners (that can afford it).

It is fairly bland timber but seems to turn okay.

Buzzbee:
This bowl is Silver Birch. The shape may not be to everyone's taste, but I doubt anyone could call it 'bland'.


Sorry - Edit did'nt seem to allow me to change the image which was too large.

Second attempt

Tim Pettigrew:
I would go for it.  Yes it does rot very quickly so perhaps convert and rough turn as much as you can - leave the turnings for a few months to dry and then re-mount and complete.  I find that using Finishing Oil brings out the best of any figuring whilst using sanding sealer tends to emphasise the blandness of the wood.

I was given a substantial amount of Birch that a neighbour had felled as the roots were destroying her drive! See photos below of an example bowl from this Birch with buffed finishing oil as the final coating.

After a few months another trunk section was cut open to reveal spectacular spalting (See photo) which ended up as eight rough turned bowls plus bits and pieces for light pulls and boxes (See photo).

Subsequently within a year a lot of the rest of the wood was far too gone to be usable!

Hope this helps?

Tim

davidbrac:
I like turning thin walled  birch bowls and vases when the wood is still green

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