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General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: antioch01 on July 10, 2017, 08:47:18 PM

Title: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 10, 2017, 08:47:18 PM
I have a lot of hemlock on a property I have purchased,,,, would like to do something with it other than selling it for chip wood.
I have heard it is pretty good when the bark is removed. So I thought I might saw it into 6X6 or 8X8 posts. And some 2X6 for barn repair.
Just bought a used LT40HD and getting it back in shape,, but anxious to use it. Will the posts hold up very well in the ground ? If not I will buy PT and just saw planks for trusses and bracing. Also not sure about drying time after sawing. And if the boards will warp if not laid straight to dried first.
Green at this, but love equipment of all types. Lots to learn.(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/46383/IMG_0643~1.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1499733778)
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Bruno of NH on July 10, 2017, 08:57:14 PM
Hemlock is great for post and any framing members but put it up green .
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Chuck White on July 10, 2017, 08:58:29 PM
Welcome to the Forestry Forum, antioch01!

Hemlock will last only a few years in the ground, it is good for beams and 2X's for strapping and rafters/joists!

When we use Hemlock, we usually put it up "green", less chance of splitting!
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: 4x4American on July 11, 2017, 04:20:16 AM
Peter Drouin uses hemlock logs (bark and all) as posts for his outbuildings, not sure if he treats the bottom or anything
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 11, 2017, 05:13:22 AM
Thanks for replies,,,, glad to hear about using them green. Will save a lot of time.
I have a 40' Low-Boy semi trailer that needs new planks as well, I wanted to use Oak but sounds like the Hemlock may hold up as well or better.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: WV Sawmiller on July 11, 2017, 05:35:12 AM
   White oak is still going to be your preferred trailer decking as to strength and durability/weather resistance. Hemlock is cross grained as I understand so it is stronger than many other softwoods. Good luck with yours.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Kbeitz on July 11, 2017, 05:45:21 AM
Oak or ash for trailers. Hemlock for barn boards.
Hemlock is a great wood to work with but it's a soft wood.
It's not a good wood for ground contact.
Not so bad if you tar the bottom end.
Hemlock is what I cut the most of.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 11, 2017, 06:05:18 AM
Lots of Hemlock in Murphy N.C. and the log buyers chip it and are not paying much, so I bought this LT40HD sawmill and figured the wood is worth more to me in framing members than it would bring in chips. Even if it only holds up half as long as the oak, it will be worth it to me. I plan to saw the planks extra thick to help with the strength.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 11, 2017, 06:13:08 AM
What type of boards do you saw from your Hemlock ? Is it a good looking grain for large exposed timbers for post and beam construction ?
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: thecfarm on July 11, 2017, 06:16:43 AM
I built 2 out buildings with it. I put it up green,hot off the mill.  :D  When it dry,it can split. Can have shake in it,which gives it a bad name. It's an old timer wood to use.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Don P on July 11, 2017, 07:14:54 AM
It does tend to have shake more often than most other woods, separation along the line of the rings. You can sometimes begin bucking off pieces from the butt upward and get out of the shake. It is better for siding than white pine, carpenter bees don't like it. It makes nice timbers IMO. I use it dry but that is about my pace  :D
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Chuck White on July 11, 2017, 07:16:44 AM
Quote from: antioch01 on July 11, 2017, 06:13:08 AM
What type of boards do you saw from your Hemlock ? Is it a good looking grain for large exposed timbers for post and beam construction ? 

Once Hemlock lumber/beams are in place, most any type of "clear-coat" will really bring out the grain!

Nice lookin' lumber!

Also, heavy!

Easy sawing on the bandmill!
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 11, 2017, 08:33:56 AM
Not familiar with "shake" ?? Never mind, I googled it, got it now. Thanks. These trees are on the mountain, and from what I read the shake is more prevalent in wet areas.
From what I have seen on the trees already cut, and on the ground for a year or two,,, there does not look like very much if any shake, but they still have bark on.

I have 4 degree blades that came with the saw, sound OK for Hemlock ?
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: GAB on July 11, 2017, 09:30:19 AM
Quote from: antioch01 on July 11, 2017, 08:33:56 AM
Not familiar with "shake" ?? Never mind, I googled it, got it now. Thanks. These trees are on the mountain, and from what I read the shake is more prevalent in wet areas.
From what I have seen on the trees already cut, and on the ground for a year or two,,, there does not look like very much if any shake, but they still have bark on.

I have 4 degree blades that came with the saw, sound OK for Hemlock ?

If you look at the ends of hemlock logs you can sometimes see some separation between the growth rings. 
These logs would be best chipped as the best they will become is expensive firewood.
Personally I would use 9* blades.
Gerald
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: scully on July 11, 2017, 10:03:26 AM
Watch out for ring shake . If you have good Hemlock it is great for building . I have sawed miles of it ,some is better than others . Right now I need a tractor trailer load for my own barn . Welcome to the forum .
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Crossroads on July 11, 2017, 10:18:10 AM
Congratulations on the mill! 4* might not be the best blade for the wood you have, but it will cut it well. Not sure how many blades came with the mill, but if you have a bunch of 4* they do a nice job and have less tendency to try to go over hard knots.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: 50 Acre Jim on July 11, 2017, 11:08:56 AM
Hello antioch01 and welcome to the forum.  I'm right down the road from you, a few miles from Standing Indian Campground off of Hwy 64.  Just bought a Norwood HD36 and part of the reason was to try and salvage some of the many Hemlock's on my property.  Such a travesty, all these beautiful trees dead and dieing.    Anyhow, we should try to get together sometime, I'd like to see your setup.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: moodnacreek on July 11, 2017, 12:53:26 PM
The devil made hemlock, the lord made pine !  I can't believe people say use it green. On timbers ok but not siding boards. In the eighties I sided my house with hemlock dried on sticks but to close to the ground and it shrunk and split bad.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 11, 2017, 01:21:21 PM
Thanks for blade suggestions, only have 4 blades, and will buy some more with different angle to try.
Jim, we have property with dead and alive hemlocks also, bought a logging truck and had planned to sell the timber but prices are extremely low right now, then got the idea to buy this sawmill and use the lumber to repair the barn and possibly sell some that way. We will see. Going through the mill in Florida, have several medical appointments, then taking it to Murphy.
Look forward to getting together, can get contact info when we get up there.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: petefrom bearswamp on July 11, 2017, 04:56:58 PM
I saw a bunch and sell it mostly 4/4 for siding boards and battens
some like it green some dry.
shake is an issue tho.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: thecfarm on July 11, 2017, 09:52:36 PM
I only run 10° and that hemlock cuts fine. Maybe a 4 would be even better,but what I use comes out good.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: 4x4American on July 11, 2017, 10:22:19 PM
Quote from: moodnacreek on July 11, 2017, 12:53:26 PM
The devil made hemlock, the lord made pine !  I can't believe people say use it green. On timbers ok but not siding boards. In the eighties I sided my house with hemlock dried on sticks but to close to the ground and it shrunk and split bad.


:D :D   Never heard that one before.  All the hemlock around here is full of shake.  junk.  Over into VT a ways theres good hemlock I hear. 


Dave Shepard tells about an old timer he used to work with, Poine ain't a tree it's a weed lol


I enjoy sawing hemlock, love the smell.. I rarely saw it though.

Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: barbender on July 11, 2017, 10:42:40 PM
I think we have about 10 hemlock trees in all of MN, so I have no experience with it. Antioch, I'm getting the sense that you do things a bit like me- buy a log truck, and a sawmill, to process a few trees you have. I shudder to think what my per board cost might be😂
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 12, 2017, 04:51:57 AM
You are right Barbender,,,, I am a tool & die / job-shop machinist by trade, but really like equipment and tools. We bought the mountain property, needed roads, bought Dozer, excavator etc. Had to have a semi and low-boy to haul them to Murphy. Now starts the tree adventure.
No, not rich by any means, you can tell by the age of my equipment, never bought new, just enjoy finding and restoring a good piece of equipment. My pay-off is operating those pieces. Hell, I would pay someone to run a D-9 root raking, or one of those mega dump trucks.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Peter Drouin on July 12, 2017, 05:44:54 AM
I sell a lot of hemlock, green or dry it sells well.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/SAM_0531.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1459911136) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/SAM_0746.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1469063882) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/SAM_0787.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1471298712) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/SAM_0801.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1471650776) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/SAM_1292.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1493944037) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/SAM_1316.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1494550088)

Good stuff, You just have to know what you're looking at when looking for shake.
Where old school here , 2" and bigger hemlock, 1" W Pine.
Good stuff.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 12, 2017, 06:19:53 AM
That is one beautiful mill site,,,,,,, Are those building support posts in the last pic Hemlock ? If so, any special treatment in the ground ?
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: repmma on July 12, 2017, 12:07:25 PM
Hemlock board and batten on my garage, put up green, no issues or splitting.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Dave Shepard on July 12, 2017, 01:06:52 PM
Quote from: 4x4American on July 11, 2017, 10:22:19 PM
Quote from: moodnacreek on July 11, 2017, 12:53:26 PM
The devil made hemlock, the lord made pine !  I can't believe people say use it green. On timbers ok but not siding boards. In the eighties I sided my house with hemlock dried on sticks but to close to the ground and it shrunk and split bad.


:D :D   Never heard that one before.  All the hemlock around here is full of shake.  junk.  Over into VT a ways theres good hemlock I hear. 


Dave Shepard tells about an old timer he used to work with, Poine ain't a tree it's a weed lol


I enjoy sawing hemlock, love the smell.. I rarely saw it though.

Say what? I love pine. If I could cut only one species, it would be EWP. :)
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Dave Shepard on July 12, 2017, 01:12:42 PM
Oh, and I hate the smell of hemlock. I've used a ton of 2X hemlock dry. Screws or nail gun, no problems.
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Bruno of NH on July 12, 2017, 04:54:27 PM
I have built a lot with it dry and had no problems till you have to plane or chisel a knot
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: Peter Drouin on July 12, 2017, 06:11:15 PM
All gravel here. So I put the logs in a hole, backfill and pound the log down like a nail. Done.  :D :D
I'll plumb them up later. Just a pole barn, lowest tax on a pole barn. I will mix a little old oil and diesel to put a little around where the ground stops and the air starts.
Just a 2" ring ;D
Title: Re: Any experience with Hemlock ?
Post by: antioch01 on July 12, 2017, 06:29:10 PM
I really like pole barns, 40' X 60' in Murphy. 80' X 100' two story here in Plant City, that is it in the background of my avatar pic, and 35' X 55' in Tallahassee Fl.
Always used pressure treated posts here in Fl. The barn in Murphy is Hemlock posts like yours. Just in the ground though. I am treating the ground next to the posts with used motor oil also. Not enough to be an environmental issue.