Wood Species Guide: groups
Birches & Beech
Birch, beech and alder are the quiet, even-grained hardwoods behind a lot of cabinets, furniture and kitchen tools. Yellow birch is the premium birch of the Northeast, with a light golden color, occasional curly figure and the strength to make good cabinet doors and drawer sides. American beech is hard, heavy and tight grained, with the little flecks that make it easy to spot, and it is a traditional choice for workbenches, tool handles and spoons. Knotty alder is red alder from the Pacific Northwest sold in a rustic grade, full of sound knots, and it has become a favorite for doors and cabinets with a warm, casual look. Alder is a birch-family tree, which is why it lives in this group. All three take stain well, though birch and alder can blotch without a conditioner. Open each page for working notes and what is in stock in Fort Myers.
11 species in this group, 1 in stock now.
- Knotty AlderIn stockAlnus rubra Knotty alder is red alder from the Pacific Northwest sold in a rustic grade full of tight, characterful knots. It is soft, easy to work and...
- American BeechFagus grandifolia American beech is hard, fine grained and almost tasteless, which is why it has been the classic wood for chairs, bent parts and kitchen tools. It...
- American HornbeamCarpinus caroliniana American hornbeam, nicknamed musclewood for its rippled gray trunk, is a small native tree with remarkably hard, tough wood. It is a turner's and toolmaker's wood...
- European BeechFagus sylvatica European beech is the pale, hard, fine-grained wood behind Europe's bentwood chairs, workbenches and toys. Most US stock is steamed, which gives it an even pinkish...
- HophornbeamOstrya virginiana Hophornbeam is a small native tree with some of the hardest wood in the eastern forest. It is prized for tool handles, mallets and turnings rather...
- Paper BirchBetula papyrifera Paper birch is the white-barked birch of the North Woods, with pale, fine-grained wood that turns easily. It is a budget-friendly pick for spoons, bowls and...
- River BirchBetula nigra River birch is the birch of southern riverbanks, and the only one native to Florida. Its pale, fine-grained wood mostly comes from yard trees and makes...
- Silver BirchBetula pendula Silver birch is Europe's everyday birch and the main source of Baltic birch plywood. Solid boards are pale and fine-grained, and rare Masur figure is a...
- Sweet BirchBetula lenta Sweet birch, or black birch, is the hardest of our common birches, with reddish heartwood that can stand in for cherry. Its twigs smell of wintergreen,...
- Tasmanian MyrtleNothofagus cunninghamii Tasmanian myrtle is a southern beech from Australia's cool rainforests, with fine grain and warm salmon to red-brown color. Figured and burl pieces are a favorite...
- Yellow BirchBetula alleghaniensis Yellow birch is the workhorse hardwood of northern cabinet shops: hard, fine grained and easy to machine. Its creamy sapwood and warm heartwood finish beautifully, and...
Not sure which wood fits your project?
Walk the racks with us in Fort Myers. We'll show you the slabs and boards side by side and talk through hardness, finish and budget.