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Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

I usually don't work with hemlock, but I got a good price for a lot of 2" boards. Although it's pretty green, I fastened five boards together for a table top. Each board is 2"x 8" x 8' and fastened together with 10 - 3" pocket screws per board.

It looks great right now but how much shrinkage and/or twisting can I expect? It's drying at room temperature on a raised flat surface.

5/8/2022 8:58:36 AM

Grittyville, WA

Good question. Kiln dry is the way to go generally speaking. Ive found cedar dries predictably... I havent used hemlock...

5/8/2022 11:25:55 AM

50 Acres

I am assuming this is a picnic table. Locally they cut grooves with a skil saw on the bottom of the boards. this is done so the board curves down when drying, instead of up to the eating surface. Hope I explained this right. Jim

5/8/2022 12:59:00 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Thanks Jim, it’s for an outside “farm” or “ harvest “ table which seem to be the latest trend. So you’re right, it’s for a fancy picnic table.
I’ll take your advice and cut some grooves on the underside to give it some room to move.

5/8/2022 2:34:17 PM