What kind of wood ....

[JunkMan]

I plan to use Baltic Birch on the inside of my tear. Went to the lumber yard to get an idea what birch boards would cost, to use for framing the cabinets and such. I found oak, mahogany, maple, etc, but no birch. Don't they make birch boards, or does my lumber yard just have a limited selection? What other kind of wood could I use, that would match the birch? The maple looks like it would be close.

[mikeschn]

Wood workers mix and match birch and maple all the time.

I had to go to a speciality wood store to buy birch hardwood to match the birch plywood. What I found out there is that birch hardwood is wild and wooly. It moves all over the place. It bends and warps and crooks and crows, and you name it, it does it. But I bought it anyway, and the galley I build with birch plywood and birch hardwood looked great. I would do that again...

Here's what my birch galley looked like...


Mike...

[Guest]

Mike,
Is that a "set in place" extended counter top on the Baha?
(I see what looks like two black handles towards the back)
How do you stow it?

[JunkMan]

What I found out there is that birch hardwood is wild and wooly. It moves all over the place. It bends and warps and crooks and crows, and you name it, it does it. Mike...

Thanks for the reply Mike, your galley looks great. I have enough trouble with "tame" wood, so maybe I'll try mixing the maple boards with the birch plywood. I won't be using much, as I am not going to get too fancy with my cabinets.

[TomS]

Wood workers mix and match birch and maple all the time.

I had to go to a speciality wood store to buy birch hardwood to match the birch plywood. What I found out there is that birch hardwood is wild and wooly. It moves all over the place. It bends and warps and crooks and crows, and you name it, it does it. But I bought it anyway, and the galley I build with birch plywood and birch hardwood looked great. I would do that again...

Here's what my birch galley looked like...

I'm about two weeks away from starting my face frames. I've been debating weather to use birch or maple. I had been leaning toward birch. But, after reading your post, I'm thinking I might be better off with maple as I have no prior experience building cabinets. The last thing I want to do is wrestle with a bunch of bannana boards.

BTW -- I love the exended work surface in your galley. What do you with it before closing the galley hatch? Fold it down, slide it in? Enquiring minds want to know!

[mikeschn]

Ah the galley of my first tiny Benroy... it really ended up looking very nice with all the birch...

The extended piece you see in the back with the black handles would go into the Benroy cabin for the trip.

I found that the birch, for the short pieces that I used on the 4' teardrop were well under control. I wouldn't want to make an 8' bookcase with Birch though!!!

In that photo some of the birch is a year old and had already developed a patina, while some of the newer birch, still looked raw. I sure wish I could see it now... A couple in NY has it...

If you are thinking about building in maple get a piece of scrap maple and a piece of scrap birch plywood. You'll find when you do some test staining and polyurethaning, that depending on the color you want, maple is not always the best choice. Maple ends up being too light, and birch ends up being too yellow. So test before you build...

Mike...

[Ranger Rod]

What about mixing Aspen with Birch? My local Lowe's has it and it looks very white. I don't think Poplar would match up once varnished, although it might.

[doug hodder]

Any time I've gone in to get birch, it can be pretty hard to find, and the quality usually isn't what I want in random board feet. Maple might be the way to go and you can get figured, quilted, birds eye..etc for trimming out the detail work. I did get into a bunch of spalted birch a couple of years ago, but have used it all up now. Structurally, maple is a better way to go. Places like Woodcrafters, and Rocklers will have birch, but it can be pricy there. Poplar isn't used for staining, mostly furniture interior uses, like couch structures, and takes paint well, not much for any grain detail however. Doug Hodder

[mikeschn]

What about mixing Aspen with Birch? My local Lowe's has it and it looks very white. I don't think Poplar would match up once varnished, although it might.

Aspen is typically used for drawer sides, as it takes stain very splochy. It might be okay if you just want to put a poly on it, and no stain. I would try finishing a piece and see if you like it.

Mike...