Hemlock

Scientific name: Tsuga heterophylla Sarg.

Geographic origin: West Coast of North America

Description

  • Sapwood: lightly whitter than heartwood.
  • Heartwood: light brown.
  • Fiber: straight and rarely wavy.
  • Grain: medium size to rough.
  • Characteristic defects: small lively knots.

Capacity of being impregnated

  • Sapwood: medium capacity of being impregnated.
  • Heartwood: low capacity of being impregnated.

Mechanization

  • Sawing process: easy with no difficulties.
  • Drying process: slow but easy to carry out, cracks and deformations are not frequent.
  • Planing process: no difficulties.
  • Gluing process: no difficulties.
  • Nailing and screwing process: no difficulties.
  • Finish: no difficulties.

Physical properties

  • Apparent density at 12% humidity 480 kg/m3 light wood.
  • Dimensional stability
  • - Volumetric contraction coefficient 0.41 % stable wood.
  • - Relation between contractions 1.75% no tendency to deformity.
  • Hardness (Chaláis-Meudon) 1,4 softwood.

Hemlock
Mechanical properties

  • Resistance to static flexion 780 kg/cm2.
  • Elasticity module 108,000 kg/cm2.
  • Resistance to compression 450 kg/cm2.

Hemlock
Observations

It can have resin bags