Western red cedar

Photo and data from Forest World

Common Names

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Arborvitae

Canoe cedar

Giant arborvitae

Giant cedar

Pacific redcedar

Shinglewood

Western redcedar

Common Uses

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Boat building

Caskets

Decorative veneer

Exterior trim & siding

Poles

Porch columns

Canoes

Figured veneer

Lifeboats

Shakes

Sheathing

Shipbuilding

Siding

Stakes

Veneer

Species Distribution

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REGIONS:

North America

COUNTRIES:

Canada

United States

Physical and Environmental Profile

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Environmental Profile

Western redcedar is reported to be demonstrably widespread,
abundant, and secure globally, although it may be
quite rare in some parts of its range.
(Source - The NatureConservancy - Rank of relative endangerment based primarily
on the number of occurrences of the species globally).

Distribution

Western redcedar is reported to occur in Alberta,
British Columbia, Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon,
Washington. It is reported to form widespread forests with
Western hemlock, and also with other conifers.
 It prefers moist, slightly acid soils.
 Western redcedar is also reported to be
cultivated (from seedlings in nurseries) as a source of timber in
Britain and France.

Product Sources

Some material from this species is reported to be available from
sustainably managed, salvaged, recycled, or other environmentally responsible sources.  

Although Western redcedar is reported to be still available at moderate to low prices,
it is believed to be on its way to becoming scarce.
 Current demands are reported to be far greater than the time required for the tree to regenarate.   

Tree Data

The tree is described as often large to very large,
producing a tapering trunk that is buttressed at the base.
 The height of the mature tree is reported to be 100 to 175 feet (30 to 53 m),
with a trunk diameter of 2 to 8 feet (0.6 to 2.4 m).  
It produces a clear bole that is usually free from side branches for many feet up,
which means the outer layers of the tree are knot free and clear.
 This feature is reported to make Western redcedar timber especially
suitable for high-class joinery and woodwork.

Sapwood Color

The narrow sapwood is whitish in color and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.
 Sapwood width is reported to be seldom greater than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in mature trees.

Heartwood Color

The freshly-cut heartwood is reported to vary in color from
dark chocolate-brown to salmon pink, sometimes variegated.
The color ages to reddish brown and eventually to silver gray.
 The wood is much sought after for its 'weathered' appearance.

Grain

The grain is typically straight, and even.

Texture

Texture is coarse, and is reported to be much coarser than in Redwood.

Odor

The wood is reported to have a sweet, fragrant or cedary smell, and a faint bitter taste.

Natural Durability

Western redcedar is reported to have very high natural resistance to decay
because of large amounts of extractives.
 It is reported to perform very well in contact with the ground, under most climates,
without any kind of preservative treatment.  
The mild winters in the British Isle are reported to be an exception, since they tend to promote decay.
 Seasoned Western redcedar wood is also reported to be
susceptible to attack by the common furniture beetle.

Weathering Properties

The wood is reported to have very good weathering characteristics,
which makes it a very popular timber for exterior applications.

Toxic Constituents

Prolonged exposure to dust from machining operations is reported to cause
skin and nose irritation in some individuals.

Corrosive Properties

The wood is acidic and may cause metals, such as iron to corrode.

Blunting Effect

Dulling effect on tool edges is reported to be slight.

Cutting Resistance

Cutting resistance is reported to be small,
but the wood has a tendency to fray during cross-cutting.

Planing

Western Red Cedar is reported to have excellent planing properties.
It is a very popular timber and is considered to be one of the major lumber species
in the United States and Canada.  

Turning

The material is reported to turn very well.

Moulding

Moulding qualities are rated as very good.

Boring

Western Red Cedar is reported to respond very well to boring.

Mortising

The wood is reported to have very good mortising characteristics.

Splitting

Red cedar is reported to be highly favored for riving shingles and shims
since its straight grain allows it to be split easily and predictably.

Nailing

The material is reported to have excellent resistance to splitting in nailing.
 Nail holding properties are good.

Screwing

Screwing properties are rated as excellent, and screw-holding qualities are good.

Gluing

Gluing characteristics are rated as excellent.

Polishing

The wood is reported to have good polishing characteristics.

Staining

The wood is reported to stain well.

Steam Bending

Steam bending properties are rated as poor.

Response to Hand Tools

The wood is reported to work well with hand tools.

Strength Properties

Western redcedar is reported to be highly suitable for ladder-poles because of its
light weight, strength, straight grain, and freedom from knots.
 The wood is also known for its high rot resistance, and is a primary choice for shingles.
 It is also highly favored for siding, fenceposts, and other outdoor uses.
The exceptionally light-weight wood is very strong.
 Its straight grain and moderate hardness are reported to combine to make it a very
desirable material to work to very precise dimensions.

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Reference Sources

Numerical Data Source

USDA. 1987.
Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material,
Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory,
Madison, Wisconsin.

Descriptive Data Source

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980.
Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition.
McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources.
McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses.
Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors.
Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada.

Jackson, A. and D. Day.  1991.
 Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood.
 Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Little, E.L.  1980.
 The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region.
 Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.

Western Wood Products Association.  19__.
 Softwoods of the Western USA.
 Published and Distributed by the Western Wood Products Association,
Yeon Building, 522 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988.
Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical.
United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988.
Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy.
Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color.
 Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Edlin, H.L. 1969.
 What Wood is That?: A Manual of Wood Identification.
A Studio Book, The Viking Press, New York.

Arno, J. 1989.
Thuja plicata - Western redcedar.
In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World.
Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 345-347.