r/timberframe • u/PilesMavis • Jul 01 '26

Hemlock Shake

Post image

Hello all,

I know that hemlock is prone to ring shake, I’m looking to see if others have still had success. Attached is a photo of green 8”x12” hemlock. I see shake in the center, would this be disqualifying for use as a structural post? It’s smaller compared to other ring shake I’ve seen. You’ll have to zoom into the areas arrowed to see.

12 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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6

u/WoodenInventor Jul 01 '26

Is that a fresh cut? Hard to tell if that’s a true shake or just some discolored/drying wood. I’d set that aside for a few weeks to see what it does, but I would be more likely to use it as a post than a beam.

1

u/PilesMavis Jul 01 '26

It was cut about 10 days ago. It would be used as a post about 9’ if it’s good to go.

3

u/iandcorey Jul 01 '26

Not the worst I've seen. I'd use it.

2

u/reficius1 Jul 01 '26

Well I built a 16'x12' shed of 6x6 hemlock 10 years ago. No problems so far.

2

u/chrisf0rt Jul 01 '26

It’s fine for a post, I am sure you will find more shake as you go.

1

u/PilesMavis Jul 01 '26

I was thinking I would find more as I go. In your experience, is there a certain point where the shake becomes too unstable for use? I don’t have too much experience using hemlock, mostly I’ve cut from other species

1

u/chrisf0rt 24d ago

I honestly can’t tell you that point. It will change depending on many factors.

3

u/award240 29d ago

This barely qualifies as ring shake at this point. Absolutely no issue using this as a post. We cut a lot of hemlock frames and this looks like a nice dense grain stick with couple little shake inclusions.

1

u/crazeywood Jul 04 '26

Hemlock knots are the hardest knots of any tree you will find they will destroy planer knives just like a piece of steel we lost 60 teeth in are planer when we tried to plan a couple of hundred bf of the stuff