What is the difference between Hemlock and Douglas fir?
Douglas Fir tends to grow less “limby” than Hemlock, making it a little more valuable as logs. As far as my experience goes, if you get reasonably clean wood (knots or other defects) then it will make little to no difference in your project. I’ve cut up many trees of each and can tell no real difference in looks.
What is the difference between yellow pine and Douglas fir?
- Cheaper than spruce
- Darker in color
- More availability
- Has a rustic appearance
- Not as exclusive as spruce
- Not as strong as spruce
- Slightly decay resistant
Does Douglas fir make good firewood?
Fir is good firewood because it burns well and produces high heat with only a moderate amount of sparks. Douglas fir is described as one of the easiest splitting firewood choices available. It is straight grained and knot free which make it a really nice firewood to split into kindling size pieces.
Is Douglas fir a hardwood or a softwood?
Is a Douglas fir hardwood or softwood? General description: Douglas fir is a very popular softwood species because of its strength and versatility. We stock wood from North America and Europe. Although both springs belong to the same botanical genus, they differ slightly due to the climate in which they are grown. Is a Douglas fir a conifer?
Is hemlock stronger than fir?
Fir is harder and stronger than pine, spruce or hemlock, and it's less likely to have knots or other blemishes.Aug 31, 2021
Is hemlock fir stronger than Douglas Fir?
Significantly, Hem-fir is quite strong and its strength is only slightly below that of Doug-fir.Aug 18, 2021
How can you tell the difference between hemlock and fir?
Needles have 2 white "racing stripes" on the underside. Fir needles have similar stripes. Conical to egg-shaped (more or less); fine branches give this tree a lacier appearance than spruce, fir or pine.
Is a Douglas Fir a hemlock?
Despite its common names, it is not a true fir (genus Abies), spruce (genus Picea), or pine (genus Pinus). It is also not a hemlock; the genus name Pseudotsuga means "false hemlock".
Is hemlock as good as pressure treated?
Pressure treated will last significantly longer. Hemlock performs about the same as Southern Pine and its above ground life is significantly less than treated pine's in ground life. In ground, you can't expect untreated wood to last more than 3-5 years.Aug 24, 2019
What is the strongest 2x4?
Grown throughout the southeastern U.S., yellow pine is by far the strongest softwood on our list. It has the highest bending strength & compression strength of any softwood seen throughout North America. And it's high strength-to-weight ratio makes it popular for building trusses and joists.Mar 10, 2020
How do you tell a western hemlock from a Douglas fir?
Hemlocks (Tsuga) It is easy to distinguish them from other native conifers by their short, flat needles and by the drooping branches and drooping leaders at the top of each tree. The cones have rounded scales like Douglas fir, but don't have bracts protruding from them.
What does a hemlock Bush look like?
Poison-hemlock stems have reddish or purple spots and streaks, are not hairy, and are hollow. Leaves are bright green, fern-like, finely divided, toothed on edges and have a strong musty odor when crushed. Flowers are tiny, white and arranged in small, umbrella-shaped clusters on ends of branched stems.Jan 29, 2019
Is hemlock a pine or fir?
Pine, spruce, fir, and hemlock (and several others) are all conifers in the botanical family Pinaceae. Each of these trees are, technically, in the pine family and this may be why many people see an evergreen tree and call it a pine. But.Dec 4, 2020
Why is Douglas Fir not a true fir?
The Douglas Fir is not considered a true fir because the cones hang down off the branch and fall off whole. The Douglas Fir's one-inch long needles are also Flat, Friendly and Flexible.
Which is stronger pine or hemlock?
It is much stronger and harder than pine. It is used as cribbing (jacking timbers) and in situations requiring high strength. Green hemlock is very heavy but is easily worked with tools. Once dry, hemlock is very difficult to work.
How can you tell hemlock from Cedar?
0:362:09Meet the Species -- Cedar & Hemlock Trees - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt's lines run up and down they're vertical. And they're nice and straight. So cedars they haveMoreIt's lines run up and down they're vertical. And they're nice and straight. So cedars they have scaly leaves and they also have smooth straight bark. Hi i'm hope with glacier peak institute.
What is the difference between a hemlock tree and a fir tree?
Fir tree needles are normally longer than those of a hemlock tree. Fir trees – nine types grow wild in North America – belong to the genus Abies, while the four North American hemlock species are part of the Tsuga genus. Firs and hemlocks differ in size, foliage and preferred growing conditions; both come in parent form ...
How tall does a hemlock tree get?
Many fir species, such as white fir (Abies concolor) and noble fir (Abies procera), commonly grow between 100 and 150 feet tall.
What is the foliage of a fir tree?
The evergreen foliage of fir trees differs from that of hemlocks. Hemlocks feature a narrow, flat, evergreen needle that tapers at its base to form a tiny stem, attaching to the twigs on what resembles a woody cushion. The needles on a fir tree appear plump or flat in a cross-section view. They grow right out of the twigs ...
How long are fir needles?
Hemlock needles normally do not exceed an inch in length, while the needles on firs, like the white fir, develop to 3 inches in length. Advertisement.
How big do fir cones get?
Fir tree cones come in a wide array of sizes. Those of the California red fir (Abies magnifica) may grow to as long as 9 inches, while some firs – including balsam fir (Abies balsamea) – produce a cone as small as 2 inches long.
How long is a hemlock cone?
Hemlock cones are small, with only the mountain hemlock generating a cone as long as 3 inches. Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) has a cone that is less than an inch long.
Where do fir trees grow?
Geographically, most of the firs grow in the western portion of North America, with only the balsam fir and the Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) native to eastern regions. Canadian hemlock and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana) grow in the East, while mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) and western hemlock exist in the Northwest. Advertisement.
What is the difference between D fir and hemlock?
Another feature to look at are the buds - D fir are much longer than Hw/Hm and pointed.....the buds on hemlock are small and round....and the pattern of leaves of hemlock is informal and have different lengths.
What color are needles?
Needles are uniform in size, glossy, and yellow-green to deep bluish-green. They cover the branches densely on all sides or may be mostly upturned.
How big are the leaves of a wiki?
FYI- WIKI = The leaves are needle-like, 5–23 mm long and 1.5–2 mm broad, strongly flattened in cross-section, with a finely serrated margin and a bluntly acute apex. They are mid to dark green above; the underside has two distinctive white bands of stomata with only a narrow green midrib between the bands. They are arranged spirally on the shoots but are twisted at the base to lie in two ranks on either side of the shoot.
Is Douglas Fir a true fir?
Yes but Douglas firs are not true firs. Is there anyone that can chime in on my dilemma? The big reason is because I'm trying to figure out which type of soil I will use for what I thought top be Douglas fir seedlings
Do hemlocks like organic soil?
For my hemlocks (mountain) I use more organics than I would for Doug Fir as they like a well drained soil.
Is there a difference in the pointyness of Doug fir needles?
Another pic from a different Doug fir. There actually can be a fair bit of variation in the degree of pointyness of the needles.
Is Hemi organic?
In regards to your hemi's being in 100% organic material..... I'd be careful as you need to make sure you don't overwater as this might bring on root rot.
Which is lighter, hemlock or Douglas fir?
Hemlock-fir is lighter in color and lighter in weight than douglas-fir.
Which holds more resin, Douglas Fir or Hemlock?
Beyond this… I can tell you that Hemlock hold more water moisture and more prone to cracking when dry… and Douglas Fir holds more resin near the pith and roots and is typically heavier than Hemlock. So this is what I got… any corrections or additions are welcome.
What is the strongest lumber?
Topa—Douglas Fir is one of the strongest construction grade lumbers available.
How many species of hemlock are there in North America?
Real Hemlock trees of the Tsuga genus has only 4 species in North America.. most popular is the “Western Hemlock” ... most of the other species are being decimated by an insect (the hemlock woolly adelgid … from Asia of course) and climate changes has greatly reduces these species… most stock you can get comes from Eastern Canada, but mostly gets turned into plywood.
What is Douglas Fir?
Douglas Fir is of the Psudotsuga genus (notice “kinda Hemlock” not “kinda Fir”) It is the second tallest tree in North America and grows along the eastern coast and comprises of most of the Fir lumber in the US.
What is root bark used for?
Root bark is also used to make tea, which in weak infusions is a pleasant beverage, but induces sweating in strong infusions. The leaves can be used to flavor and thicken soups. The mucilaginous pith of the root is used in preparations to soothe eye irritations.
Is Douglas Fir a fir tree?
I am surprised to be the first to respond to this. Douglas Fir is not a Fir tree.. nor is there a such thing as Hemlock Fir.. these are marketing names,.. which always confuses us woodworkers. your Hemlock Fir is most likely not Hemlock, but could be one of more than 10 different species of conifers (hemlock, fir, or spruce … or even Douglas Fir)
When evaluating DF timbers for reclaimation in old, open barns and warehouses built before 1950?
When evaluating DF timbers for reclaimation in old, open barns and warehouses built before 1950, I don't bother to clean off anything. I merely hit sample boards and beams with either a 2lb or 6lb hammer. If they break, they are hemlock. If they ring true, they are DF. Hemlock doesn't even have to get wet from rainfall to eventually rot in this climate.
Is hemlock harder than fir?
Hemlock grain would be finer/ tighter looking in both the mixed and vertical grains. Fir might be a little harder but not a whole lot, at least until it was 20 years old then older Fir tends to get pretty hard , as in hard to nail into / tougher.
How big is a tree's cone?
1. Tree has typical rather small cones (about 5 cm), with little "snaketongue"-like things sticking out of it (the end of the tongues is split like a snake-tongue). The bark of larger trees has a very typical colour and structure.
Is a hemlock fir a fairy tree?
Douglas fir are easily recognizable and so are Hemlocks. The different Hemlock species are quite impossible to keep apart. They are, however, terribly superb and timeless/almost fairy-like trees, especially if they stand alone. 1.
What are the stalks on a Douglas Fir tree called?
Douglas fir Leaf Stalks. Creative Commons/Bugwood.org. There are several conifers that have needles that are flattened and attached to the twig with leaf stalks — which are also called petioles by some botanists. These slender stems support and attach the larger single needle to the branch.
What are the attachments on spruce and fir?
Spruce and fir have their needles attached individually to the branches using different attachments called pegs, suction cups, and stalks, which are never bundled. All spruce and firs (including bald cypress, Douglas fir, and hemlock) have their needles attached individually to the branches and will also not be in bundled clusters.
What type of tree has single needles?
So, if your tree does have single needles that are directly and singly attached to the twig, you will often likely either have a fir tree or a spruce tree. These twig attachments will be in the form of wooden pegs for spruce and in the form of direct cups for fir.
What are fir needles?
Fir needles are typically short and mostly soft with blunt tips. The cones are cylindrical and upright and the shape is very narrow with rigid, upright, or horizontal branching as opposed to "drooping" branches on some spruce trees. Fir tree needles are soft and flat and are affixed to the twig with attachments that resemble suction cups instead ...
How to identify fir tree needles?
When you are trying to identify fir trees, look for erect and upturned cones growing off branches.
What are the four sided lines on a spruce tree?
Identifying the Major Spruces. All spruce trees have sharp-pointed needles that are often 4-sided or diamond-shaped in cross-section and have four whitish striped lines. These needles are attached to the twig with wooden pegs called a pulvinus, which can also be referred to as a sterigmatum.
How many needles are in a bunch of pine trees?
Conservation. On true pine trees and larches, needles are arranged and attached to the branches in bundles or clusters with two, three, or five needles per bunch, however, the needles of other conifers including spruce, fir, and hemlock trees are not grouped in these clusters and thus they can only be identified by other traits of the needles, ...
What is Douglas Fir?
DOUGLAS FIR is a straight grained and resilient timber with high strength to weight ratio as well as quick availability and ease of use. Hem Fir is light in color varying from a creamy, nearly white to a light, straw-brown color.
What is hem fir?
Hem-Fir is a species combination of Western Hemlock and the true firs (Noble, California Red, Grand, Pacific Silver and White fir). With strength properties slightly below Douglas Fir-Larch, this is an extremely versatile species group and useful for multiple, general-purpose framing applications.
What type of fir has white needles?
Both the Hemlock firs and the Douglas firs are large fir trees. They have soft needles with white lines. The needles are flat and not stinging or rigid. The different Hemlock species are quite impossible to keep apart.
What is the Janka of Eastern White Pine?
Eastern white pine wood has one of the lowest Janka hardness values of any wood, meaning it takes less pressure to embed the steel ball into it during testing. It's rated 380 Janka or 380 lbf.
What is the hardest wood?
Generally acknowledged as the hardest wood, lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum and Guaiacum officinale) measures in at 4,500 pounds-force (lbf) on the Janka scale. That's more than twice as hard as Osage orange (one of the hardest domestic woods) at 2,040 lbf and more than three times harder than red oak at 1,290 lbf.
Where does hemlock grow?
Hemlock is evergreen tree that belongs to the pine family. There are around 10 species of hemlock that are native to America (4 species) and Asia (remaining 6 species). Hemlock inhabits dense, moist habitats that are characterized by dry, rocky soil.
What are the different types of wood?
These three types are: softwoods, hardwoods, and engineered wood. Each of these different wood types can be used in a number of different ways.
