Stickers

[rjwoelk]

I have my choicen of sticker material. Which should be number 1
Western hemlock
Birch
Jack pine
The stickers are for 2 x  and 1x material

[fishfighter]

To me, what ever is on hand. I has a big pile of pine and oak now, but I just cut for myself at this time. It's a Dang shame I just chunk them in a pile, knowing better that I should stack them. ;D

[drobertson]

This is very touchy for me, mainly because most of what I sticker and sell I never see again.  I will say they need to be dry whatever the species, and uniform in thickness.  I have stickered piles with both dry oak and pine, with no complaints.  What needs to be considered in my case is my friend and woodworker, a craftsman, said all has turned out fine, the rest mostly goes up pretty soon after sawing for siding.  I do know that things change in the timing with others plans, so doing a good sticker job is in my opinion very critical, takes more time but makes a better finish product for who ever it's for.  I still have some 2x oak laying, as well as cedar and pine, all stickered, but laying since mid summer, so just keep this in mind.  Also a good weight on top should be recommended at your site or the customers.  Drying takes time if not going up in a quick build, and sun light takes its toll on the top layer for sure.

[bkaimwood]

I hate to admit it but I buy, yes buy, a product from the lumber yard...sheets of osb, slathered with whatever stain or water repellent laying around, and cover the stack to keep from loss in top rows...sticker the sheet as well.the top row of lumber is usually worth much more than the 6.99 I paid for the sheet...and its reusable for years...I use pine stickers, just cause I am trying to squeeze the most out of all my logs...in time, I hope to be using the same species as the stickered product...Rome wasn't built in a day...

[Brad_S.]

I prefer hardwood stickers so I would go with birch. I also routed a U channel in mine to minimized surface contact and minimize the chance of sticker stain. A lot of work but a power feeder makes it easier.

[woodmills1]

I unstacked a pile last week that had stickers I have used at least 5 times in 10 years.  They are hemlock, it is tough and seems to hold up well over time.  I use mine green rough the first time and if possible plane them for second use.

[WV Sawmiller]

RJ,

   I have not cut western hemlock but I cut some eastern (?) hemlock here in WV a few weeks ago and cut the client some 1"X2"x16' nailing strips and they were bad to break because of the knot placement. Any tree that sprouts limbs every 2' for so is going to give you problems breaking when that thin/narrow.

    I mostly use/salvage the tops out of my tulip poplars which is the trees I mostly cut off my place. The tops which are not long enough or big enough to provide good lumber often still yield good 1"X1"X4' long stickers.

   Good luck.

[Knute]

I would also vote for birch. In my area, I prefer oak, cherry or maple but have also used poplar.

[rjwoelk]

Thanks fellows for the info.  I am in the process of building a log cabin, 8 x10 dovetail corners, and have lots of hemlock , clear no nots,

[Warped]

Cool, we'll expect lots of pics.....ever seen a blind dovetail joint?

[rjwoelk]

Once we have it up, we are taking pic as we go, I pan on making a pic story . It has been very trying, frustrating, but I know it will be worth it. I have already had to get out the wood stretcher,  yup, cut it twice and still too short. Lol