Cedar question???

[Anneh]

Hi all,
I bought a cedar board from Lowe's because I liked the grain. Then noticed on the end it says "Idaho Lumber Corp." Just curious what kind of cedar it may be. My son thought maybe since it came from out west, it could be western red cedar. Since I've never worked with cedar before I'm not sure of the differences. This board does smell like some closets so my guess is its the kind used in cedar chests, etc.
Does western red cedar have an odor?
This wood is great to shape and sand tho
Thanks!
Anne

[TJ Brown]

The western cedar I get is tan to dark brown, I have seen it with a little pink. The eastern cedar I use has a very strong smell and is very pink to red with almost white sap wood. If you could post a pic, I bet someone could help.

[Harlan]

Aromatic red cedar is usually sold in packages for closet lining (about 20 sq. ft.). Usually 1/4" thick 4" wide and 4" long, very strong odor and some times there are crystals on the surface and the heart wood is red and the sap wood is white. Western red cedar is from a light tan to a very dark brown. This is commonly used for fences. In the West I buy in 1" x 12" by 12' to get a broad variety a grain pattens and colors from light tan to dark brown with some pink and I use it for intarsia. It cuts easy and sands easy and it is dry. When I was in Tenn. recently I found that the western red cedar there seemed to have a slightly different grain pattern and the wood there was green. I assume that it came from a different forest. I hope this helps. My daughter also gave me some cedar for cooking and it looks like western red cedar.

[Haggard3230]

It sounds like you got the eastern cedar Anne. Be sure to wear a mask when working with it as it is toxic. But we all should wear a mask.

[Anneh]

Thanks all! Great information. I'm going to try to get a picture tomorrow. Am I correct in assuming western red cedar has no odor and is not toxic?
And thanks Merle. My son told me to be sure to wear a mask so I broke down and bought one. I've never worn one before and am trying to get used to it. The only problem so far is it gets terribly hot.

[unixpro]

Aromatic cedar, the kind usually used in closets, is Eastern Red Cedar. WoodFinder has it listed here. Western Red cedar, on the other hand, listed here, is not nearly as aromatic and, as far as I know, is not toxic at all.

Western red is extremely easy to work with. I recently made a rather large blanket chest from Western Red, and found it almost like working with balsa wood. It's very light and works very well. I didn't experience any issues with burning, although I did have some problems with denting when I accidentally dropped it. I put a bit of aeromatic cedar inside so it has that cedar-associated smell.

[Terry Jay]

Numerous studies going back many years find that western red cedar dust can cause reduced lung function, a mask or respirator and dust control recommended in confined spaces. It has a mild odor especially on fresh cuts. Can crack in the drying process. Cuts easily. Soft. Hope you enjoy it.

Terry

[2fretknot]

Anne, [COLOR="Red"]WEAR A MASK ! I have worked with western cedar making garden arbours and didn't wear a mask. I ended up with breathing problems for over a year, and it wasn't fun. Vic

[georgewoodie]

Anneh:

I am with 2fretknot. I worked with ceder quite a bit finally developing respiratory problems because of it.

Sensitivity to the toxic cedar increases over time so be aware.

I liked the colour, the ability to weather, the weight and the workability but sad to say, I no longer can work with it.

Now I check on the toxicity of all woods that I will work with. There are several web sites that provide toxicity information on different woods.

Good luck,

Woodie

[Pajaro]

I have a whole stack of red cedar, I wont even touch it without gloves and a respirator type mask... But I love the wood, the color and how easy it is to work with.