Western Hemlock

Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg. · Softwood · North America

Janka 540 lbf≈28 lb/ft³ dried (est.)

Properties

Janka hardness	540 lbf (2,402 N)
Average dried weight (est.)	28 lb/ft³ (450 kg/m³)
Specific gravity	0.45
Modulus of rupture	11,300 psi (77.9 MPa)
Modulus of elasticity	1.63 million psi (11.24 GPa)
Crushing strength	7,200 psi (49.6 MPa)
Shrinkage — radial	4.2%
Shrinkage — tangential	7.8%
Shrinkage — volumetric	12.4%
Shrinkage T/R ratio	1.9

Values at 12% moisture content, clear-wood averages. Source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021), Table 5–3b p. 5–12; shrinkage Table 4–3 p. 4–8.

Western hemlock is a moderately light softwood (specific gravity 0.45, Janka hardness 540 lbf) of moderate strength, hardness, and stiffness. It is a major pulpwood, lumber, and plywood species, its lumber going mainly to building material.

Appearance & grain

Heartwood and sapwood are both almost white with a purplish tinge, and the sapwood is generally no more than about 2.5 cm wide. The wood often contains small, sound, tight black knots, and dark streaks left by hemlock bark maggots do not reduce its strength.

Workability

Shrinkage is moderately high, about the same as Douglas-fir's. Green hemlock lumber holds considerably more water than Douglas-fir and needs a longer kiln-drying schedule.