\Vest Coast Hemlock

By Robert E. Mahaffay, Trade Extension Director \(est Coast Lumbermen's Association

\\'hethcr lunrber is needed for builcling a home, nr;rking :t lrtcl<lcr, or irackagir.rg foocl, \\'est Coast hemlock has thc u'icle range of qualities reqrrired. It is truly a u'oocl oi remarliable versatilitl' and usefulness. A distinct specics. it is unlike thc hemlock native to other regions of North Atncrica, ancl ltossesses characteristics rvhich rank it among. the forernost of comnrercial rvoods. Comrnor-rly ltorrght an,:l solcl lrs \\'est Coast hemlock, it is also knon'n as \\'estcr.rr hcnrlock.

Since thc rvoocl is fine-texturecl, straight-grainecl, stilf ancl casily u'rtrked, it adapts itsel{ readily to employnrenr of nrany <1iffcrent sorts. It is particularlv clistinguishecl b;' its strcngth, {rccdonr from pitch, freedom fronr splintcring, :rncl its case of r,r'orking. \\rest Coast hemkrck is classi lic<l as a u'hite u'ood, its ccllor ranging fronr a pleasing olTu'hite to a faint reddish-brolr-n heartn'oocl, l'ith little r-;rriatiorr in the narrou' sapu.ood band. Ir.r the green condition, \\'cst Coast heml<tck has a relatir-elr' high moisturc content. It drics excelrtionally rvel1, either by air-scasoiring or kiln-drying, ancl n'hen ltroperll' stored is subjcct to lr r.r'rininrum o{ shrinkirrg or checking.

Carpcnters lil<e to l'ork u'ith \\-est Coast hemlocli. It is eas,y to nail. l)rr'. it is moderatelv light irr u,eight. Jr srLu's clrsilr-, u'ithorrt splinterir.rg. Because of its stiffncss and strcr.rgth, \\rest Coast hemlocl< studcling rer.nains irr alignrncnt durir.rg construction. This iumber is availalllc in :rll constructior.r iterns, including beveled ancl bungalon siclings, ancl :r great varietv of ir.rdrrstrial items, including grades for the relativelv less exacting lt<ix and packaging rlsages :rncl for the r-err. carefully selecte<l laclder stcick.

Xlany rrscrs prefer \\'test Coast hemlock boarcls, dimcnsion, drop sicling and dther general construction items beciLrtse its n'orkability ancl sometr-hat lighter \\'eight apprccialrly re<lrrce framirrg costs ancl give lasting satisfactiorr. Its freeclonr fror.r.r ltitch is also of material ber.refit in thir r-cgard, u'hile at the -sante time making the lun-rlter emir.renil_r' suitablc for shelving and containers and the nur-nerous ruscs irr u'hich :rl)peariutce is lrn imlt,,rtant c<tnsicleration. \\'cst Coast hemlock lunrber is also available in a trumbei: of strcss grades for structural uses in u'hich zrssurecl strength is recluired. It rnay be obtained in u'iclc u'iclth:i ;rrrcl long' lengths.

Thc clear, finc-texturcd floorir-rg and hnish nranufacture<l lronr \\icst C'oast hemlock are among the finest pr<lclucts of No:-tl.ru'estcrn timlrer. They possess the rare clrralitr- oi incrcusins in harrlncss u'ith age, n'hile their color clarkcns