ToneMonkey Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Well, a Silver Birch tree fell down in my back garden about a month ago and the landlord (being the lazy git he is) hasn't moved it. So yesterday, I went out the back armed with a dodgy handsaw and finished the job (the tree was just snapped in half but was still held up by a small bit of trunk about 12 feet off the floor). Damn good job I used to be a climber because I was balanced on the fence next to the tree like karate kid doing swan kicks on the post on the beach. Anyway, I've got a log of Silver Birch about 300mm diameter and about 2m long (as well as various other bits and pieces). Is there any use for it for anything (not just guitars) that anyone can think of or should it go to the great lumber yard in the sky? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suregork Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 I'm not sure if it's that great for guitars, but Ruokangas uses flamed birch as tops. But I believe it doesn't come from the exact same specie, but a close relative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclej Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 the silver birch is a very fast growing tree and as such is probably a little soft and pithy when cured like an elm. it's not known as a woodworking lumber but i did read somewhere that in scotland it was used for funiture and other household items. i've never worked with it so i can't say firsthand but i would guess that if you could cure a guitar piece without it cracking too much it might make a nice, mellow jazz type guitar. in other words it probably wouldn't be a bright, great sustain type of guitar. my best advice would be to take a piece of the trunk big enough for a guitar and seal both ends of it. put it in the garage for a year or so then slab it out and dry it even more. if you like the looks of it and it seems stable then give it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneMonkey Posted April 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Apparently they used to make cotton reels and bobbins out of it. It's soft and easily worked, flexible but not very strong. I think I might have to make space in the shed. It's going to be getting a little full soon as my mate is a groundskeeper and keeps giving trees the chop. He's got a HUGE log of yew that is partly mine for a long bow (which is good because you don't have to wait for it to dry ) Well it'll probably take the landlord a few months to get round to picking it up so well all have to put our heads together and see if we can come up with any uses. I left the 12 foot trunk sticking out of the ground and nailed a birdbox to it. If I find a use, that'll come down too (as long as no birds have started to nest in it). On the plus side, it's made a nice sunny space at the bottom of the garden, so now I have a veg patch smeg, I've been living in the country for too long. Anymore suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJPUC Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Birch bends easily from what i understand. Make a snare drum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skibum5545 Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 Birch can be very beautiful; sorta in between maple and cherry, but with a nice amber color, and softer. We have mostly birch trim in our house; it makes stunning shelves or end tables, but I've never seen it used for tonewood before. Like BJPUC said, it's used very often in drums for a sharp, bright tone. It'd probably do very well as a hand drum or a snare drum. Can't hurt to try anyway. Drum building can be a fun and interesting project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duff Beer Man Posted April 18, 2005 Report Share Posted April 18, 2005 If you got a lot of it, why not just throw together a guitar body and see if ya like it. Who knows you could be on to something new for guitar wood. Always worth a shot in my eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Sorbera Posted April 19, 2005 Report Share Posted April 19, 2005 Birch is used in high end drums to provide a more balanced tone than the maple drums. I say go with the snare! I wouldn't make a guitar out of it but you might try some fruniture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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