Hemlock Shingles?

[Deadwood]

We are in the process of getting our long idled shingle mill up and running, and while we do have some cedar logs on our property, I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of, or ever milled out shingles that were not made from cedar.

I know hardwood would probably have to be ruled out but we have plenty of hemlock, spuce and Hackmatack and was wondering if the shinglemill could saw these or if the mill is just limited to the soft wood of cedar. This mill is so old, and the blade is so close to the hands and whatnot, I am a big skittish of throwing up a slab of wood and trying something different without a bit of research first.

[junkyard]

Lots of White Pine was made into shingles years ago. The thing is if it is one of the woods not normaly used make them thicker.  I worked for a man, Mike Virkler About 45 years ago he was building a camp  at Buck Lake  the logs were all tongued and grooved before cutting the notches and laying up. The shingles were White Pine about one and five eights inches thickon the butt and one half inch on the tip, twenty seven inches long this was the length he could cut with the bar on his chain saw. All quarter sawn and sapwood trimmed off. Afew years ago the State bought the land it was on and the camp had to be moved or by a certain date be burned. He donated it to the Adirondac  Blue Mountain Museum  It was moved and reasembled useing the original shingles as the were in fine shape yet.
All of the logs lumber and shingles were cut with a Chain Saw the shingles were held to the roof with a square peg in a round hole. I forget how much of the shingle was laid to the weather.
                              Junkyard

[ohsoloco]

I've seen pictures of timber frame buildings that had roofs done in oak shakes, but they were hand split with a froe.  These white pine shingles were cut on my shop bandsaw, but are holding up nicely    I never worked with hemlock before, but heard it's a bear to put a nail into once dry...you'd probably want to nail em down green.

[solodan]

Out your way, I would figure white pine would be used for shingles, because out here lots of shingles were made of sugar pine.
Most  of the shingles here are made from cedar, but there is big money in hand split sugar pine shingles, as they are used to restore the historic buildings in the  National Parks.

[iain]

Larch is used here or oak and of course the shingle of choice sweet chestnut

  iain

[Deadwood]

Thanks for the replies. I would never have thought that hardwood would be okay to saw on a shingle mill, but it makes sense that they would last forver being white oak and whatnot.

As far as White Pine goes, I know in Maine there was an old clabboard maker that claimed White Pine clapboards outlasted cedar clap boards, but the magazine article on him (Wood perhaps many, many years ago) had a disclaimer saying that this was not true according to the Forest Service Labratory in Wisconsin.

I know there is a limit to Yankee Ingenuity, but at the same time I also know you can only take official research for what it is as well. I am not suggesting White Pine go up against Cypress for longevity, but I could see where white Pine tacked up on the side of a building would last a long time with all the wet/ dry cycling. In other words, I would soomer believe the old sawyer than some modern researcher.

Any thoughts on the longevity of White Pine shingles?

[beenthere]

You can believe what you want. I think the 'modern researcher' that did the research is probably older, and dead now, than your 'old clapboard' maker, as it was back in the 20's I believe. 
Wood science isn't something just discovered in the last few years.  Some of the earliest experiences and research had to do with decay resistance of different wood species, and included long term controlled tests of woods and preservatives.
Still, the old clapboard maker may have had good reason to promote his White Pine clapboards over the cedar (possibly produced by a competitor??).  And I don't mean to 'poo poo' actual experience over 'modern researchers' either, as the actual is often as good or better.   Often, one will use what is available. If its white pine, then that is what gets used. If yellow poplar, that gets used.
Likely white pine shingles could last for a reasonable time. Compared to cypress sapwood, I may even opt for the white pine.  And compared to some cedar, I may also opt for the white pine. 
But, no species will last forever (maybe 'our' lifetime, but not forever). 

[SwampDonkey]

Your hemlock shingles probably won't take a nail well. We had some strapping of 1/2 x 4" hemlock for the ceiling in a potato shed. Father got coned into buying it, so he had to use it even after the DanG stuff split all the pieces when trying to strap it on. Now that is eastern hemlock. Western hemlock doesn't do that and is used in stair cases and banisters, window trim, doors etc. Hemlock is not all that remarkably resistant to rot either. I'de rather use tamarack. ;D

[JN68]

HI; as a owner and still use an old shingle mill , cedar is the main wood pine will saw good as well. poplar sawed easy but had too bundle fast or they bowed. Hardwood on an old mill is asking for some missing fingers,ihave a 50hp diesel and tryed a 4 inch block of white birch , all it did was made the saw smoke ,heat up the blade and the engine would have stalled if the mill had still been in gear. Hemlock will saw but has the willing too split when the nails or staples are used. I haved used it for 20 years and still have my fingers so be carefull, it seems that is one thing they will saw ;D  James

[SwampDonkey]

Used to be a couple shingle mills down the road. They pretty much have gone out of here since the 80's. Everyone using vinyl, aluminum and steel. I think there is one up in Claire and they might mill some in Millville, that's the closest around here. It's funny to because I'm in the heart of northern white cedar country. We have large almost pure stands of it, but alot has been clearcut hard in the last 20 years. Very slow growing stuff, but I try to encourage it as much as possible on my ground. I love walking in those old growth cedar stands in winter time. The marketing board has had a heck of a time dealing with  shingle mills in the past, so many have gone broke and the board has always been stranded with the bill to pay the loggers and truckers. Some of them mysteriously burn up and it was worst when they were allowed to burn the chips in those big cone shaped burners.