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Western hemlock features a fine texture and a straight, uniform grain. This species is seasoned uniformly in dry kilns to improve its strength and stiffness, and to enhance its resistance to decay and insect attack. It offers a wide array of applications, ranging from mouldings and interior woodworking to general construction, roof decking and plywood. This wood species is primarily known for its even grain, which offers excellent machining properties

Common uses

Hemlock is firmly established as an outstanding wood for mouldings and interior woodworking. Other uses include doors, windows, floors, suspended ceilings, ladders and utility purposes where a high grade is needed. Hemlock is recommended in India for furniture, solid doors, finger joint door frames and other interior uses. Hemlock is also used for general construction, roof decking and plywood. It is popular for laminating stock and the production of glue-laminated beams sold into the Japanese market.

Of interest:

Western hemlock is known for its even density which provides for excellent machining properties

Working properties

Hemlock has a relatively good strength-to-weight ratio and is known for its excellent working properties. The wood requires special care when drying but yields a quality product. It is relatively easy to work with, and has good machining qualities. It turns, planes and shapes well and can be sanded to a smooth finish. The wood glues satisfactorily, has moderate nail and screw holding ability and polishes beautifully. Hemlock lumber is seasoned uniformly in dry kilns. Kiln drying improves its strength and stiffness, and increases resistance to decay and insect attack.

Title	Process	Performance	Comments
Machining	Planing	Good to average	A silky smooth finish is easy to achieve
	Shaping	Average	Easy, with good surface quality
	Sanding	Good	Good sanding finish
Fastening	Screwing	Good
	Nail retention	Good
	Gluing	Average
Finishing	Staining	Good	The best finish is achieved with tight stain, or clear finish followed by nitrocellulose alkyd clear sealer and finish
	Painting	Good
Drying	Ease of drying	Fair	Due to the high moisture content of this wood, longer kiln drying times are required
Durablity	Natural decay resistance	Poor	Not appropriate for prolonged outdoor exposure
	Treatability	Good	Can be improved by incising

Stiffness / MOE (MPa)	Air dry	12300
Strength / MOR (MPa)	Air dry	81
Density (KG/M3)	Air dry	429
Compression Parallel (Mpa)	Air dry	46.7
Shear (Mpa)	Air dry	6.48
Shrinkage (air dried-12%)	Tangential/radial ratio	1.6

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