Yellow Birch

Grain is straight with an even, medium texture. Heartwood is a light brown, sometimes with a slightly reddish hue, sapwood is pale yellow to nearly white. Color tends to darken with age. Moderate to low rot resistance. Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, glues and finishes well.

Straight to interlocked grain with medium to coarse texture. Heartwood ranges from pale pink to a deeper reddish brown, sometimes with streaks of medium to dark reddish brown. Colors darken with age, QS surfaces show a ribbon-stripe appearance. Somewhat rot and insect resistant. Easy to work, although tearout can be a problem with interlocked grain. Glues, turns, finishes well.

The grain is usually straight, but can also be wavy or irregular. Has a medium texture. When freshly cut the heartwood of purpleheart can be a  dull grayish/purplish brown. Upon exposure—usually within a few days—the wood becomes a deeper eggplant purple. With further age and exposure to UV light, the wood becomes a dark brown with a hint of purple. Working with purpleheart can present some challenges. Rot and insect resistant, except marine borers.