Most people refer to this wood as "aromatic cedar" because of its pungent natural oils, and use it to line closets and hope chests to ward off insects. Endgrain: Resin canals absent; earlywood to latewood transition fairly gradual, color contrast medium-high; tracheid diameter small-medium; diffuse parenchyma. Western red cedar is the most common type of cedar. It grows throughout the eastern United States, usually to heights of just 20' to 40', though some trees reach 100' or taller. By the way, the Japanese almost never make fences out of wood, so a Japanese cedar fence is a pretty rare item. Trees grow 50' tall with 2'-diameter trunks. The colouring of British WRC is paler, but more consistent, than its Canadian cousin. Moderate natural luster. Others rely on it for lining closets or cigar humidors. Eastern White Cedar is a close relative of Western red cedar, genetically speaking. In that case red cedar … Responds poorly to steam bending. woodmagazine.com/blanketchest $, Construct a made-in-the-shade cedar tree bench for your backyard. Japan Western Red Cedar Import from Canada has a wide range of characteristics that made it an import of choice in Japan. When building a custom home, its very important to select the best wood species for your project in order to maximize overall durability, while minimizing cost. The other three western cedars are Alaskan Yellow cedar, Incense cedar and Port Orford cedar. The main difference between shredded cedar vs. redwood mulch is the appearance. Unlike the closely related western red cedar (Thuja plicata), northern white cedar is only a small or medium-sized tree, growing to a height of 15 m (49 ft) tall with a 0.9 m (3.0 ft) trunk diameter, exceptionally to 38 metres (125 ft) tall and 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) diameter. Today we are going to look at two of the most popular types of cedar, Western Red Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Japanese Cedar Fence Pickets. Glues, stains, and finishes well. For more, visit the blog post: https://solutions.dunnlumber.com/projects/what-is-western-red-cedar. Price: $7 per board foot (4/4, S2S stock). This member of the cypress family grows from southern Alaska through northern California and in the Rocky Mountains. Pricing/Availability: Not widely imported, Sugi is generally available in Asia as siding or other light construction purposes, as well as veneer. Canadian Western Red Cedar is a very stable and durable specie. $4 to $6 per board foot (clear 4/4 S2S stock). You could always use wood bleach to lighten the color before applying a finish. Other Information On Japanese Red Cedar Widely cultivated as an ornamental tree, it can be found in Japan, Azores Islands, China, Britain, Europe, North America, and regions of Nepal and India. Knotty Western Red Cedar, or thuja plicata, is probably the ideal building material for outdoor R&R projects, and even more so in high-moisture conditions. All Rights Reserved. Smaller craft lumber is sometimes imported and made available. The sapwood is almost white, and knots are often present throughout the wood. Can someone tell me if I can expect a Sugi bedframe I am making to substantially darken if I don’t apply a finish? If you are considering a custom home there are numerous decisions you have to make including what type of logs and timbers to build with? Red cedar has plicatic acid in it which makes it highly resistant to decay, while I cannot say the same about Japanese sugi, which is not that decay-resistant. Even so the wood remains lightweight, giving it an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. woodmagazine.com/woodprofiles, Aromatic Cedar: Myth or Mothbuster, woodmagazine.com/aromatic, Cedrus libani, the cedar of the Bible: woodmagazine.com/biblicalcedar, Build a mahogany and aromatic cedar blanket chest. Historically, as the strongest of all the cedar products it has been the preferred wood for japanese architecture, building boats, railroad ties and fence posts (its heartwood has an in … Canoe builders use the wood to fashion their boats. It serves as the national tree of Japan and is often planted around shrines and temples. It's because multiple varieties exist with different properties and uses. Sources: Tough to locate outside its range; within the range, check lumber dealers and local sawmills. New to Western Red Cedar, but don’t know where to start? The northern variety proves less dense than western red cedar, contributing to good workability with power and hand tools. Eastern White Cedar is a close relative of Western red cedar, genetically speaking. Japanese cedar fence panels from Oklahoma Lumber & Supply are hand-built 6' or 8' tall, 8' wide dog ear cedar stockade panels, constructed locally in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The cedar tree has been revered for its spiritual significance for thousands of years. Prices are in the mid range for an imported softwood. There is less iron in the soil where IRC trees are grown. Prices for instrument-grade wood run much higher. However, the white cedar tree is much smaller and so the lumber is quite knotty, compared to the very clear lumber of red cedar. Aesthetics can make a major difference in the curb appeal of your home, so decide which color will suit your home the best. Common Uses: Siding, paneling, furniture, fences, boatbuilding, and small specialty items. It is also lightweight and durable. Japanese Cedar is the national tree of Japan, where it is highly-prized for the scented, strong-but-lightweight timber it produces. The trees may grow 200' tall with trunk diameters of 10'. The heartwood of this species bears a consistent reddish-brown tone, sometimes tinged with pink. Western Red Cedar is one of the most popular exterior species in use in North America these days. Like most cedars, the wood is soft, light, aromatic, and resistant to decay. Search. Just beware of the knotty areas. The Western Red Cedar is also quite long-lived, with some members of … How can one wood be so versatile? See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Its wood was used for the doors of sacred temples and burned in cleansing ceremonies for purification. Scrollsaw, Carving, and Decorative Projects, Air-drying lumber is more than a matter of time, A very personal experience with Lunar Lumber. Odor: Has a distinct, lingering, cedar-like odor. Fluorescence: A Secret Weapon in Wood Identification, Bow Woods (from a mathematical perspective), Brazilian Rosewood, East Indian, and Other Rosewoods, Genuine Lignum Vitae and Argentine Lignum Vitae, BOOK: WOOD! In that case red cedar would be … When referring to boards, dimensions are approximations, however a 1 x 4 Western Red Cedar board is typically closer to a true 1″ thickness, while Chinese Cedar is closer to 3/4″ thick. Go here for Western Red Cedar Fence Pickets.. Installing Western Red Cedar Siding? woodmagazine.com/treebenchplan $. Instead, he proposed to plant a row of trees along the avenue which led to the temple where the shogun was buried. About Contact Open Collection Buy Install Share Download. If you like this type of look and feel for your home, western red cedar may be the best type of timber for your home. Get … However, the pickets are thinner and less sturdy than Western Red … Otherwise that wood is surprisingly cheap and resistant wood. The wood machines beautifully, glues and stains well, and develops a satiny sheen. Sources: Seek out hardwood dealers for lumber, home centers for closet lining. Sources: Find knotty grades in dimensional sizes at home centers and lumber yards; clear grades at hardwood dealers. Cedar pickets are 5/8" x 4" x 6' x 8' and secured to a true 2" x 4" rail with electro galvanized ring shank nails to prevent rusting by central Oklahoma's unforgiving weather. The wood tends to be brittle, tearing out without sharp cutters and backer boards. Knots are common. Also worth noting is the misconception that the knots will fall out over time. And some woodworkers report rash and respiratory problems. How can I keep my router bushing assembly in place? The cedar is more stable than other species. And we’re often asked about the difference between these 2 cousins. The availability factor will depend on your region, but overall western red cedar is in much greater supply than California redwood. Choose polyurethane or lacquer for the best finishing results. Comments: Sometimes called Japanese Cedar, the wood is in the Cupressaceae family, which includes many cedar-like species. Rot Resistance: Rated as moderately durable to durable; moderate insect/borer resistance. https://www.artisanloghomes.com/western-red-cedar-vs-alaskan-yellow-cedar Boatbuilders use it for decks, railings, and interior paneling. The wood has an aesthetically pleasing, straight-grain pattern; a pleasing fragrance and it naturally resists the damaging effects of moisture, insects and microorganisms. If you don’t particularly like this look you can still use red cedar without flared ends. • Incense Cedar offers the highest insulation value, making it one of the most effective wood insulators. The Japanese might use treated Japanese cedar fence posts, although I have never seen any either (having lived 8 years in Japan, traveling… Read more », is this particular cedar a good grade for fencing long term AND IS IT VERY DURABLE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS COMPARE TO WESTERN RED CEDAR, (This is a monthly update, and your email will be kept private.). © 2020 Meredith Corporation. Price: $1.75 per board foot (4/4 S2S stock). Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide, POSTER: Worldwide Woods: Ranked by Hardness. Distribution: Endemic to Japan; commonly grown on plantations within Asia, Tree Size: 100-165 ft (30-50 m) tall, 6-10 ft (2-3 m) trunk diameter, Average Dried Weight: 23 lbs/ft3 (360 kg/m3), Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .33, .36, Modulus of Rupture: 5,280 lbf/in2 (36.4 MPa), Elastic Modulus: 1,109,000 lbf/in2 (7.65 GPa), Crushing Strength: 4,060 lbf/in2 (28.0 MPa), Shrinkage: Radial: 2.1%, Tangential: 6.8%, Volumetric: 10.5%, T/R Ratio: 3.2. Note that this cost-benefit analysis would change if you were building a fence on the West Coast instead. Though the trees are extensively (and sustainably) grown on plantations, the natural stands where the tree grows are fragmented and small, and not easily distinguished from the plantations which grow the same species. Price: $3.50 per board foot (4/4, S2S stock). Watch and see why 100% naturally beautiful Real Cedar is the ideal material for decking, siding, outdoor structures and more. British western red cedar has a pink to amber colouring with frequent dark knots. Sapwood is straw colored and clearly demarcated from the heartwood. https://sciencetrends.com/identify-cedar-tree-types-eastern-red-vs-western-red The Japanese cedar or cryptomeria, meaning hidden parts, is a coniferous tree widespread within Japan. And some woodworkers report rash and respiratory problems. For more related content, subscribe to our newsletter! It's also used for cedar … This cedar (Thuja occidentalis) is sometimes called "arbor vitae" (tree of life). Japanese Cedar is the national tree of Japan, where it is highly-prized for the scented, strong-but-lightweight timber it produces. Simply put, western red cedar is among the two types of wood—red wood being the other—that is highly durable and lasts a lot longer than most other types of wood fences. Cedar wood has a number of beneficial qualities that make it ideal for use in shingles, fencing, outdoor furniture and several other applications. Each log species is harvested from dead standing timber and dried to just the right moisture content level to allow the logs to … It does not warp, shrink, or check, (split), as pressure treated pine will likely do eventually. Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is a majestic conifer (a “cone-bearing” tree that has needlelike or scalelike foliage, usually evergreen) – and, I believe, the Pacific Northwest’s most important native tree.Because of its many uses and resistance to rot, it was called the “tree of life” by the native peoples of its range. Cedar holds up better than Western Red. Little scientific data exists, however, to show the wood repels bugs effectively. I would still also avoid oil-based finishes as they might contribute to darkening over time. But they both weather to an appealing driftwood gray with a … Grain/Texture: Grain is straight; medium, even texture. Western red cedar was first collected by the surgeon-naturalist Archibald Menzies while on the George Vancouver expedition in 1792 near Nootka Sound. Naturally occurring preservatives in the species make it resistant to rot, decay and insect attacks. On the other hand, cedar chips are browner in color. Mahalo, Opi and Satu. Today, makers of stringed musical instruments prize the wood because of its excellent sound quality. As a result, the color of the board is blonder in nature than … Or I am considering using a clear shellac. The wood is light weight (21 lbs per cu ft or 335 kg/cu m) and so is weaker than red cedar by a considerable amount. • Incense Cedar and Western Red start out as different hues; Incense is not as red as the other. Also known as Alaska cedar, this tree (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) grows in the Pacific Northwest, from Alaska through British Columbia and into Oregon. Furthermore, it shrinks 50% less than other species. It is a handsome tree and only grows prettier with age, with the most striking feature being its pyramidal shape with dense branches, spreading in concentric circles. Within its range, Spanish cedar gets used for everything from furniture to windows and cabinetry. The West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau divides Japanese Cedar Fence Boards into three basic … Port Orford Cedar has earned a reputation for strength and decay-resistance. Canadian western red cedar is a darker cedar, darker in colour and does include a … • Incense Cedar offers the highest insulation value, making it one of the most effective wood insulators. Japanese Red Cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica) is the national tree of … Brochure on the differences between Incense Cedar and Western Red Cedar. Thought to house important gods and to be highly allergenic in Japan building a fence on differences! Determine a winner in this category, but use a respirator and gloves if you ’... Would change if you experience rash and respiratory problems supply companies, specialty hardwood dealers he to. Construct a made-in-the-shade cedar tree has been revered for its spiritual significance for thousands of years canals ;! 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