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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Tsuga heterophylla Trade Name Western hemlock Family Name Pinaceae Common Names Alaska pine, British Columbia hemlock, British columbian hemlock, Gray fir, Grey fir, Hemlock spruce, Huron pine, Pacific Coast hemlock, Pacific hemlock, Prince Albert fir, Prince Albert spruce, Silver fir, West coast hemlock, Western hemlock, Western hemlock fir, Western hemlock spruce, White hemlock Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Beams, Boat building: masts, Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Ceiling, Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Domestic flooring, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Joists, Light construction, Oars, Packing cases, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Railroad cars, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shingles, Siding, Structural plywood, Sub-flooring, Utility plywood, Vehicle parts, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Vulnerable Extinct Rare Questionable Endangered May be rare in some parts of its range Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy Distribution Overview Western hemlock occurs in Alberta and on the coast of British Columbia in Canada. In the United States it is distributed in Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington. It usually occurs in dense pure stands with Sitka spruce and other conifers. It thrives well in moist, acid soils, especially flats and lower slopes. Hemlock is also reported to grow in the forests of Japan, China, and India. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Reddish brown Purple Pale red to pink Whitish Pale yellow Greenish to greyish Brown The latewood region is often tinged with a roseate, purplish, or reddish-brown color. Dark streaks (bird pecks) caused by maggots of a small black fly (chilosia alaskensis) are often present, and are often used to identify the wood. Western hemlock and Amabilis fir (Abies amabilis ) are very similar in appearance and are difficult to separate by inspection Sapwood Color White Brown Red Green/Grey Paler than heartwood Same as heartwood White to yellow The sapwood is about 3 to 5 inches (7 to 13 cm) in width, and is difficult to differentiate from the heartwood. Grain Figure Straight Growth rings (figure) Distinct (figure) Even Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Distinct figure Even Texture Coarse Fine Fine to medium Medium Medium coarse to coarse Transition from early wood to latewood is subtle. Luster Lustrous Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very little natural resistance Susceptible to marine borer attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Durable The timber has very little natural resistance to decay, and should not be used under high decay hazard conditions unless it is properly and adequately protected. Odor Has an odor Wet wood may have a sour odor No specific taste Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Dry at a slow speed UK=L US=T14C6S/T12C5S - T12 - C5 (4/4); T11 - C4 (8/4) US Schedule K (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Distortion Ring Shakes Slight surface checking Slight twist/warp Moderate surface checking High shrinkage Drying defects that may occur in this species include shake, uneven moisture content, chemical stains, warping, and iron stains. Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Requires special attention Slowly Moderate Easy Dries slowly Despite staining, timber seasons well The wood dries slowly because of its high moisture content but it seasons well, and can be air-seasoned or kiln-dried to minimize degrade. The material is resin-free and odorless when properly dried. Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Although Western hemlock is the state tree of Washington, it is reported to grow more extensively in Alaska. It is the largest of the hemlocks, and produces a long, slender, and often fluted trunk Product Sources Hemlock is abundant in supply in the United States and Canada. It is also widely used in Japan. One of the most valuable sources of timber in Canada, Western hemlock is exported around the world. Apart from timber, the bark of Western hemlock yields large quantities of tannin which is used a mud additive in oil-well drilling. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight The wood works with little dulling effect on cutters Boring Responds well to boring operations Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Very good properties Mortising Easy to mortise Finishes well Very good mortising characteristics Moulding Easy to mould Good finishing results Very good moulding properties Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Small Very stable when properly seasoned Stable It is highly rated for its stability under different moisture content conditions Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Possible if prebored Holds satisfactorily Holds nails well Easy to nail Good resistance to splitting while nailing Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Very good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Difficult to treat with preservatives Resistance to Splitting Poor Excellent Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Sanding Good sanding finish Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Possible if prebored Easy to screw Very good screwing properties Very good screw holding qualities Screwing yields good results Turning Good results Easy to turn Very good Veneering Qualities There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moderate Painting Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally good Finish is generally satisfactory Properly dried wood is easy to stain. Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness (total work) = very low Soft Shrinkage, Tangential = small