[difalkner]

All I know is that BB is very hard to get these days and when you find it be prepared to pay $$$!

 

[difalkner]

Baltic Birch is in fact Russian Birch

Not from what I've seen locally. BB comes in 5x5 sheets and has no voids, Russian Birch comes in 4x8 sheets and has different layering, glue type, and some voids. Locally BB is only available from one source and Russian is available from a couple of sources who will tell you it's different from BB.

On the Internet where all info is correct you'll find folks who say it's the same and folks who say it's different; I only know what I've seen locally, though.

 

[difalkner]

BB can come with footballs

That depends on the grade.

• B - Selected one-piece face, generally light and even in color. Occasional small pin knots and some brown streaks may be allowed, but generally no patches, voids or mineral streaks. Surface is sanded intended for natural finish. Availability is tight in summer months.
• BB - One-piece face generally light and even in color. Pin knots and mineral streaking or discoloration is allowed with occasional sound tight knots permitted. Open knots and defects in BB face veneers have been cut out and replaced with small oval or round veneer patches before gluing. The veneer selected for the patches is of the same general color as the face veneer. Surface is sanded.
• CP - One-piece face very close to grade BB. Rejected from BB for small defects with more streaking. Occasional hairline splits of less than .5mm are allowed. The oval or round patches may or may not be matched for color with the base face veneer. There will normally be more patches per face than the BB grade. Sanded surface.
• C - Patches, open knots and veneer splits allowed. Surface is not sanded.
• SHOP GRADES - Shop panels are offered in the full 60” X 60” format in all of the grades listed above. Panels allow for 1-3 splits on the face veneer along one edge of the panel in lengths no longer than 10” and no wider than 1/4”