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tsuga canadensis
By:Dan Caouette (CSFW)
Date: 4/9/2011, 7:50 am
In Response To: Skin-on-Frame: Hemlock for Ribs? (StephenHJ)

: Assuming of course I can split an 8-9 foot log of hemlock, get it
: squared off, and convert a portion into a board, will it work
: for bending for ribs?

Depending on where you like...

I assume you're talking about the conifer in the genus tsuga (unrelated to the plant poison-hemlock by the way). I know the Eastern species well. In New England we mostly have Eastern Hemlock (tsuga canadensis). My land was covered in it. I cut cords of it for firewood when I cleared the land. For a conifer it burns very nicely. The trees I had were a royal pain to split. It's quite knotty and yielded very little straight grain. The other problem is there is a marked difference in density between early and late growth. I couldn't image trying to split a 8-9' log. You'd have 6-8 whurls of branches, each marking that years growth.

Western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) is a different beast. It grows much larger and yields clearer boards. You'd have better luck splitting it.

You still have to bend it...

Messages In This Thread

Skin-on-Frame: Hemlock for Ribs?
StephenHJ -- 4/9/2011, 2:02 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Hemlock for Ribs?
Paul G. Jacobson -- 4/9/2011, 3:58 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Hemlock for Ribs?
Etienne Muller - ireland -- 4/9/2011, 4:26 am
tsuga canadensis
Dan Caouette (CSFW) -- 4/9/2011, 7:50 am
Re: tsuga canadensis
Bill Hamm -- 4/9/2011, 8:10 am
Re: tsuga canadensis
Bill Hamm -- 4/9/2011, 8:21 am
Been busy...
Dan Caouette (CSFW) -- 4/9/2011, 10:07 am
Re: Been busy...
Bill Hamm -- 4/10/2011, 12:12 am
Re: tsuga canadensis
Noel Bennett -- 4/9/2011, 9:52 am
Tsuga heterophylla
StephenHJ -- 4/9/2011, 11:29 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Hemlock for Ribs?
Kent LeBoutillier -- 4/11/2011, 11:59 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Hemlock for Ribs?
StephenHJ -- 4/11/2011, 12:17 pm
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Hemlock for Ribs?
Bill Hamm -- 4/12/2011, 1:08 am
Re: Skin-on-Frame: Hemlock for Ribs?
Kent LeBoutillier -- 4/12/2011, 6:03 am