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Common Name(s): Western Hemlock Scientific Name: Tsuga heterophylla Distribution: Northwest coast of North America Tree Size: 165-200 ft (50-60 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter Average Dried Weight: 29 lbs/ft3 (465 kg/m3) Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .37, .47 Janka Hardness: 540 lbf (2,400 N) Modulus of Rupture: 11,300 lbf/in2 (77.9 MPa) Elastic Modulus: 1,630,000 lbf/in2 (11.24 GPa) Crushing Strength: 7,200 lbf/in2 (37.3 MPa) Shrinkage: Radial: 4.2%, Tangential: 7.8%, Volumetric: 12.4%, T/R Ratio: 1.9 |
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light reddish brown. Sapwood may be slightly lighter in color but usually isn’t distinguished from the heartwood. Occasionally contains dark streaks caused by bark maggots. The conspicuous growth rings can exhibit interesting grain patterns on flatsawn surfaces.
Grain/Texture: Grain is generally straight, with a coarse, uneven texture.
Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition usually gradual, color contrast fairly high; tracheid diameter medium-large.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable regarding decay resistance, and also susceptible to insect attack.
Workability: Overall working properties are good, but because of the disparity between the soft earlywood and the hard latewood, sanding can create dips and uneven surfaces. Glues, stains, and finishes well.
Odor: No characteristic odor.
Allergies/Toxicity: Western Hemlock has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation, as well as runny nose. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Western Hemlock is one of the two primary commercial species of hemlock harvested in North America—with the other being Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Western Hemlock is used as construction lumber and is commonly grouped together with other species of fir and hemlock and sold under the more generic label “HEM-FIR.” Expect prices to be moderate for a domestic softwood.
Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.
Common Uses: Boxes, pallets, crates, plywood, framing, and other construction purposes.
Comments: Western Hemlock is the largest of the hemlocks, and is one of the most valuable sources of exportable lumber for Canada; the species is also the state tree of Washington.
When compared to Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), Western Hemlock generally has narrower growth rings, though both species can have tightly spaced growth rings.
None available.
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Can we use for sports wooden floor if we use what is the deficit
Has anyone ever heard of or had a skin rash from Hemlock?
Any resin could affect a person negatively.
just want to say that is very interesting, your reports about Western Hemlock qualities
operated alog debarker in creswell or . ran alot of western hemlock through barker .If i had a small cut on a finger and got hemlock bark or wood fiber in it the cut would swell up and fester .I would squeeze my finger around the cut to get fluid out . IT would take about two weeks for my finger to heal .A week longer than it normally take to heal. while barking hemlock the bark hog would plug up and when you had to open up the door on the hog steam would come out from the hammer… Read more »