I concur with Jim. I waited to start the joinery for 6 weeks from the time the sawyer cut the logs. This was his recommendation. He claimed that most of the twist and bow that was going to occur would happen during that time. I don't know if that is true or not as there was very little change in the beams (mostly 8x8s)even after 14 months. I also was using hemlock and I started the cutting in December. I haven't worked that much with other species, but with hemlock, the wetter it is, the easier it is to cut, especially when cross-grain paring. Good luck, jekbear