Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions Hemlock for Beams??

The saw mill that I was getting a quote from doesn't have Douglas fir but offers Hemlock. Had to resize some of the beams but came out to a reasonable price. Any problem with hemlock? Either look or anything else?

Thanks

When hemlock dries, it can develop some serious splinters. I have worked some hemlock and it seem to work quite well. Hemlock can also have "shake", or seperation of the growth rings. Your miller should have culled these before milling, but you never know.
It should also be a fairly cheap wood to buy, they certainly don't pay anything for it at the mill.

Dave

Hemlock is used by us primarily for barns, stables, and corrals.It is one of the only woods that I am aware of that horses wont chew on, and looks really nice when oiled. Fabrication is very similar to doug fir, and we enjoy working with it.

Its working out to half the price of douglas fir. But one is a local guy and the other is small sawmill that almost stocks hemlock 6x10 to sell the the railways.

As far as anything else. IT'S A KILLER MAN. Didn't Romeo and Juliet kill themselves with hemlock? Tragic, tragic, story.

Hemlock should be half the price, it will be easily twice the hassle... if the intent is to use the hemlock timbers in a residence, expect the timbers to "blow out"... this is where sections of the surface will lift out of the timber and the checks will in places get pretty wild.... It is better used exterior or in a barn or shed that is not heated too much. Good strong wood if there is not too much shake.

Acutally, our hemlock is not poisonous, it's a shrub of some kind that grows across the pond somewhere that is the poisonous one...

Well it will be used for raffer and ceiling joists. Will be raw material for 8 with a 20ft span. Looking at $1700 for hemlock and $4200 for Douglas Fir. With Hemlock all beams 6x10. hmmm have to think about that. Don't care is not perfect but don't want to warp roof.

Others have recommended to me that hemlock is good providing the joinery is simple like for sills and rafters. I am planning on using my hemlocks for my sill plates to have continuous members, as these longer members are expensive.