Reply by SteviePete

I’d suggest doing a few shop projects with yellow birch (flame birch is usually Betula alleganiensis) first. Google bench hook, sawbench, winding sticks, corner measure, and an assortment of handles—saw, plane—tote and knob, chisel, cleaver and machete’ It will be a lot more fun than fighting with hard, expensive, and difficult stock. Just make some stuff where you can determine your own “Standard of Excellence nee Acceptance” Good luck

-- Steve, 'Sconie Great White North