Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions Lodgepole Pine for Timber Framing

Has anyone out there used Lodgepole Pine from the Colorado Front Range for a frame? What are it's characteristics re. shrinkage, twisting, checking, etc? Any design considerations?

Thanks.

Peter,
We use lodgepole for most of the workshops at Pingree Park. It doesn't have problems other than twist; it's notorious for it. All the storms on the Front Range, i guess, result in spiral grain. It can be severe. So put a spec on your order of the most slope of grain you will tolerate; I think #2 has a 1 in 10 maximum.
E-mail Peter Haney (haneyrmw@frii.com) if you want his take on it; he orders it for the workshop.