Western Hem-Fir

Remanufacturing and Pressure-Treated Products

Factory & Shop Grades for Remanufacturing

Timber intended for trim and other non-structural applications may be from the appearance grades. However, if intended to be run-to-pattern or further manufactured into specialty wood products it may be more economical to select starting material from the Factory & Shop category of grades.

Factory & Shop describes a large group of timber grades for products that are intended to be re-cut for the recovery of small clear pieces. These grades are ideal for mouldings, doors, windows, case goods, cabinets and furniture. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory rates Hem-Fir in the top group of softwoods for gluing under varying conditions and with different types of adhesives.

For the most part, a pre-determined number of “cuttings” of specified quality and size must be available in a piece. The grading rules also place specific limitations on the number and spacing of allowable characteristics and imperfections in these MC15 and KD15 products.

Owing to its unique combination of attributes, Hem-Fir is a dominant species combination for manufactured woodwork. On the West Coast of the U.S., residential baseboard and doorjamb mouldings are more often manufactured from Hem-Fir than any other species. Hem-Fir is readily milled to sharp, accurate detail and its smooth surfaces and high dimensional stability assure continuing fine appearance over time.

Many moulding patterns and lengths are available. Hem-Fir mouldings and interior trim do not splinter, are resistant to scuffing and the effects of use. The colour tones remain light. Hem-Fir stair components are exceptionally hard wearing and readily take paint or stain finishes.

Factory & Shop grade products are usually sold only in large volumes, mill direct to remanufacturers. Grades include, but are not limited to the following:

Moulding Stock (WWPA & WCLIB Rules)
Shop Timber (WWPA & WCLIB Rules)
Door Stock (WCLIB Rules)
Flush Door Stock (WWPA Rules)
Jamb & Head Stock (WWPA Rules)
Clears (WCLIB Rules & PLIB Export R-List Rules)
Merchantable (PLIB Export R-List Rules)

Because it can be machined easily with exact precision, a number of decorative items are also made from Hem-Fir: turned and worked cornices, crown mouldings, shutters, louvers, blinds, ornamental trim pieces, wine and spice racks, knife holders, serving trays, cutting boards and more.

*Please refer to the SEC website to order the publication, Western Softwood Species & Grades for additional information on Factory & Shop grade products.

Treated Products

Among the western species, Hem-Fir is preferred for preservative pressure treating. Preservative pressure-treated* Hem-Fir products are strong, visually appealing, and economical for decks and other outdoor installations. Products may be treated for above- or in-ground installations and easily stained to enhance the natural color or resemble other woods.

*Please refer to the SEC website to order the publication, Wood That Works, Wood That Lasts for information on preservative pressure-treated products.

Factory & Shop timber, often considered the economical “clears” of the timber industry, is graded for the amount of clear wood that can be obtained by ripping and cross cutting a piece. “Cuttings” are used in doors, windows, mouldings, millwork, cabinets and furniture.
Figure 5	Figure 5: Hem-Fir is widely used for baseboard and door jamb mouldings. MOULDING STOCK is suitable for cutting into strips 25 mm and wider, 254 mm and longer. Lines indicate where this 5/4 & THICKER RWL MOULDING STOCK grade would be cut to recover the percentage of moulding rips required for the grade. Wane, stain, skips in dressing or other characteristics (that would surface off in making mouldings of standard sizes) are permitted in computing the percentage of cuttings available.
Figure 6	Figure 6: Hem-Fir is ideally suited for panelled and louvered doors. This 5/4 & THICKER RWL NO.1 SHOP FLUSH DOOR STOCK is intended for panelled doors. Lines indicate how the specified number and sizes of door cuttings (muntins and stiles) of specified quality would be recovered from the pieces.

Hem-Fir's straight grain and fine texture sand to a silky, reflective smoothness, retaining its light color over time; well suited for much of the interior architecture of the Pacific Rim. Hem-Fir is often favoured for exposed ceilings.

Hem-Fir is a preferred species for doors, louvers, door casings and baseboard mouldings. Such products are manufactured from the Factory & Shop grades.

Stronger than the naturally durable western species, and easily pressure treated with preservatives, Hem-Fir is useful for both the load-bearing and non-structural elements of outdoor amenities. It is an economical choice for the structural framing members and may be stained to resemble other woods.