What To Do With Hemlock Shavings?

miramadar · Apr 29, 2010

As I've mentioned in other posts, we are building a house from wood I cut a couple of years ago. The siding is 1" hemlock board and batten. We're planing all the siding boards so they're smooth and clean just before we hang them. Does anyone know of a good use for all the hemlock shavings that the planer spits out? I've probably got 15-20 bucket-loads of them.

beenthere · Apr 29, 2010

Ground cover, trails, bedding, etc.

Treemonkey1000 · Apr 29, 2010

They are acidic enough that Rhodies azeleas and roses can tolerate them. They do make good ground cover. Dump some in the kitty litter box if you have cats. Use them to start an outdoor bon fire. Erosion control around ditches and streams.

forgeblast · Apr 29, 2010

Check out cordwood building, they use shavings(sawdust) in their mortar mix.

/pine · Apr 29, 2010

I know this is not what you were asking about but having used hemlock that I have cut I thought I would relate this...

If it's not kiln dried it (hemlock) may want to split as it dries...I would make sure there is a small space between your boards and when nailing the battens make sure the nails are centered in the open space between the boards so they can move without splitting around the nails...

Another tip for B&B is "if in doubt" add more deadwood/backing blocks etc...

as for the shavings....you can pack then down into a pail and saturate with mineral spirits for fire starter (paraffin works also)

you can also buy other chemical kits to saturate the shavings and when placed in your fireplace they burn an array of different colors...(cheap entertainment)