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Eastern Red Cedar, also commonly known and sold as Aromatic Cedar, is known to botanists and other scientists as Juniperus virginiana<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Before we explore the specific geographic locations in which J. virginiana<\/em> is a native tree, we need to further clarify the term “cedar” which is commonly used and frequently misunderstood, if not outright abused given how many different species, and even different genus of trees are lumped into this generic descriptor. While some of the geographic ranges of these different trees may overlap, many do not, and this has led to people in different regions using the generic term “cedar” to describe trees that are familiar in their area but which are quite distinct from other trees around the globe described or name in the same way.<\/p>\n

$\"Eastern$
Eastern Red Cedar – Top<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
The following is a list of at least some of the more commonly encountered woods that are also referred to as some form of cedar:<\/p>\n
\n
Calocedrus decurrens<\/em> (California primarily)<\/li>\n
Cedrela odorata<\/em> (Central and South America, Caribbean)<\/li>\n
Cedrus libani<\/em> (Mediterranean mountains of Europe, Asia, and Africa)<\/li>\n
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana<\/em> (Pacific NW region North America)<\/li>\n
Chamaecyparis thyoides<\/em> (Coastal regions of eastern United States)<\/li>\n
Cupressus nootkatensis<\/em> (Coastal regions of NW North America<\/li>\n
Juniperus silicicola<\/em> (Southeastern United States)<\/li>\n
Thuja plicata<\/em> (Pacific NW region North America)<\/li>\n
Thuja occidentalis<\/em> (Northeastern North America)<\/li>\n
Toona ciliata<\/em> (Southern Asia and Australia)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
One of the first things you might notice is that only one of the above listed trees is even in the same genus as the wood known as “cedar” that we are discussing today. And that wood, Juniperus silicicola<\/em>, is restricted to a very narrow band of coastal southeastern United States and Florida. Some authorities consider it nothing more than a subspecies of J. virginiana<\/em>.<\/p>\n
The actual identification of the wood you purchase as “cedar” will depend heavily on where you purchase it and further identification may not always be provided. That said, the “cedar” we are interested in for today’s purposes is J. virginiana.<\/em><\/p>\n
J. virginiana<\/em> is native to every State east of the 100th meridian. This most easily visualized as all states east from, and including, the Great Plains states of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, although the occurrence in North Dakota is limited. The species extends northward into southern Ontario and the southern tip of Quebec.<\/p>\n
J. virginiana, <\/em>therefore, is native to a very large area of the United States and its population is increasing with time and it is capable of growth across a wide range of soils and climatic conditions.<\/p>\n
For the sake of simplicity, I will refer to J. virginiana. <\/em><\/p>\n
General Characteristics<\/strong><\/h2>\n
As the name implies, the heartwood of the Eastern Red Cedar is almost always a reddish to violet brown color. In sharp contrast, the sapwood is a pale yellow color. Unusually, sapwood can occur anywhere throughout the heartwood and when it does it creates distinctive streaks and stripes in the wood, which some users find appealing while others would reject the heartwood as imperfect.<\/p>\n
Eastern Red Cedar has a very straight grain which is almost invisible to the naked eye. However, knots are almost always present as are frequent bark inclusions, making it next to impossible to obtain truly clear board lumber pieces of Eastern Red Cedar.<\/p>\n
The texture of Eastern Red Cedar is very fine and even.<\/p>\n
One of the greatly appealing characteristics of Eastern Red Cedar, in addition to its color and distinctive scent, is its excellent resistance to rot and insect attack. Eastern Red Cedar is in fact so resistant to rot that it is frequently used as a fence post in direct contact with the ground without requiring any pre-treatment of the wood to prevent insect attack or rot.<\/p>\n
Working Characteristics<\/strong><\/h2>\n
In general, Eastern Red Cedar is considered to be an easy wood to work with. However, that said, knots and other irregularities in the wood, especially bark inclusions, can complicate the wood working process. These knots and inclusions are almost impossible to avoid as it is very rare to find a truly clear piece of lumber from this species.<\/p>\n
Perhaps surprisingly for such a soft wood, Eastern Red Cedar is reported to have a very high silica content. High silica content is well known to rapidly dull all types of cutters, so when working with Eastern Red Cedar, frequent sharpening of cutter blades will be an essential practice.<\/p>\n
Eastern Red Cedar is reported to glue well.<\/p>\n
Eastern Red Cedar is also reported to finish well, but more often than not, items made from Eastern Red Cedar are left unfinished because finishing can eliminate or impair the aromatic properties of this wood, which many find to be a source of prime appeal in using this particular wood.<\/p>\n
Again, as the common name “Aromatic Red Cedar” implies and has been alluded to in this text previously, Eastern Red Cedar has a distinctive and tell-tale scent. Anyone who has once smelled this species is highly likely to recognize its scent when again exposed. The scent is due to an aromatic oil, which can be distilled from the wood and used as a fragrance. In addition, this oil is believed to actively repel moths and other insects and this accounts for the use of Eastern Red Cedar to line closets, chests, and other locations in which clothing or other materials potentially attractive to, and destroyed by, such moths and insects. Also, small pieces of Eastern Red Cedar may be purchased to be placed in drawers or closets in the belief that they will serve as repellents.<\/p>\n
Pricing and Availability<\/strong><\/h2>\n
As I have noted, large and\/or clear sections of Aromatic Red Cedar are much less common, but smaller, narrower boards with knots present are readily available at a modest price.<\/p>\n
Turning blanks of Eastern Red Cedar are slightly less common but certainly available at reasonable prices from select dealers.<\/p>\n
I always recommend both West Penn Hardwoods<\/a> and Bell Forest Products<\/a> as excellent sources of both domestic and exotic hardwoods. I have had multiple dealings with both vendors and have always been very satisfied.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, West Penn Hardwoods is not offering Eastern Red Cedar at this time although they have done so in the past, at least in lumber format, and they may well do so again in the future.<\/p>\n
Bell Forest Products stocks only Spanish Cedar, Cedrela odorata, which was listed in the first section of this post. While not considered a true cedar, it is a nice wood with which to work, even though it falls outside the scope of our present discussion.<\/p>\n
I also do significant business with two relatively local merchants who specialize in the hardwoods of the southern United States and both currently offer Eastern Red Cedar.<\/p>\n
The first vendor is NC Wood<\/a>, based, as the name implies, in nearby North Carolina and the second are the gentlemen over at Got Wood?<\/a> in, also nearby, South Carolina.<\/p>\n
At this time, NC Wood offers a nice range of sizes and shapes of turning blanks, both spindle and bowl blank size, of Eastern Red Cedar. The largest bowl blank size, a fairly massive 10”x10”x4” is selling for the relatively low price of only $22.00. All other sizes sell for less, and in some cases considerably less, down into the single digits in fact, making this an excellent resource for obtaining this wood at a reasonable price to discover if you enjoy working with it.<\/p>\n
Got Wood? also offers a very wide range of sizes, with plentiful stock on hand in many of those sizes, of Eastern Red Cedar, in both spindle and bowl blank formats. Prices for a bowl blank range from $2.89 up to $24.89, while spindles range in price from $4.33 to $18.67. Naturally, the larger the piece the higher the price. One advantage to buying bowl blanks from these guys is that all bowl blanks are sold round, so if you don’t have a band saw or other means to but to round this will eliminate that need for you from the start. Simply chuck up the blank, mount it on the lathe, and get to turning.<\/p>\n
I would like to mention one additional vendor with whom I have had several very positive experiences, WoodTurningz of Indiana<\/a>. Despite the cutesy name, which tends to annoy me, this company does offer a decent selection of bowl blanks although the focus of their business seems to be pen making. I have found a few species from this outfit which I have not found from any other vendor. They provided me with good products and excellent service so I can certainly recommend them.<\/p>\n
These folks are currently selling “cedar” which I would imagine to most likely be Eastern Red Cedar as a bowl blank, in one size only, 6”x6”x3” for $8.95. I like these folks, but the two other vendors honestly have a wider selection of what is clearly Eastern Red Cedar, although this price is quite fair in comparison and is in fact better than that offered by GotWood?<\/p>\n
Woodfinder <\/a>is an excellent website that is dedicated to advertising wood dealers. In your search for Eastern Red Cedar, this can be an invaluable resource provided you use multiple search terms to capture all the possible listings. I can’t speak to the quality of any of the listed dealers, but Woodfinder does have the advantage of allowing searches to be performed based on location which might allow an interested buyer to visit a listed wood dealer in person to hand pick pieces at a comfortable price.<\/p>\n
A significant problem with using Woodfinder is that many vendors are listed for woods that, upon further investigation, they do not offer. I don’t know if perhaps once they did and they didn’t update their listings or if some vendors use a standardized list of woods that include most everything conceivable with the idea that once you land on their page you will find something you want to buy even if you didn’t know it beforehand. It happens to me all the time!<\/p>\n
Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Probably one of the best known historical uses of Eastern Red Cedar was in the making of pencils. Due to a lack of large trees on the market pencil makers have mostly shifted to other woods, but if you are old enough you might remember the distinctive scent of pencil shavings as being your first experience of Eastern Red Cedar.<\/p>\n
Another common use of Eastern Red Cedar, due to its excellent rot resistance, is as fence posts, fencing face boards, and even outdoor furniture and birdhouses.<\/p>\n
Due to the belief that the odor from the oil of the cedar repels moths and insects, Eastern Red Cedar planks are often used to line closets and chests.<\/p>\n
Other specialty uses of Eastern Red Cedar can include, but are certainly not limited to, carvings, archery bows, and other small wooden items including turning items made on the wood lathe.<\/p>\n
$\"Eastern$
Eastern Red Cedar – Bottom<\/p><\/div>\n
Sustainability<\/strong><\/h2>\nEastern Red Cedar is not listed as being in any way threatened or endangered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)<\/a> Appendices and it is listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)<\/a> as a species of least concern.<\/p>\n
Eastern Red Cedar is not subject to special restrictions by any United States government agency.<\/p>\n
I realize that inherent in working with wood is the killing of a part of the natural world that may be slow to return and if I become deeply concerned about this fact, I will have to find a new hobby. I hope that such a time does not come to pass or at least not any time soon. In part because I am concerned about legally and responsibly obtained wood, I am reluctant to buy from sellers outside of well-established and known vendors. I am highly unlikely, for example, to purchase any wood from auction sites, such as Ebay, because of uncertain sourcing and documentation, as well as the potential, even likelihood, of material being misidentified in order to achieve a higher selling price.<\/p>\n
However, due to the commercial scarcity of some domestic woods, resorting to auction sites such as Ebay or Etsy may be the only way to obtain some desirable domestic, or in some cases exotic imported, species that are not routinely commercially harvested. The potential risks of buying in these marketplaces have to be balanced against the desire to work with a specific species of wood. That is inherently an individual decision.<\/p>\n
I also realize that many, if not most, wood workers do not have endangered species lists memorized, therefore I think it worthwhile and important to do even a small amount of research before purchasing any lumber, domestic as well as imported, to be certain of the potential impact you are having, even in a small way, on threatened or endangered populations. This information is easy to come by and takes only minutes to locate through any Internet search engine, including those you can access on your phone as you are standing in the lumber yard or store. Unfortunately, you simply cannot count on a vendor to tell you a product they are selling is endangered.<\/p>\n
Health Hazards<\/strong><\/h2>\n
While severe reactions due to exposure to Eastern Red Cedar are quite uncommon, some users have experienced differing degrees of skin and respiratory irritation. This is most likely due to the aromatic oils in Eastern Red Cedar that give it such a distinctive scent.<\/p>\n
In addition, the long-term negative effects of exposure to sawdust of any species are well documented.<\/p>\n
It is important to remember that although many people may, or may not, be sensitive to any given wood, the only experience that truly counts is your own, so use reported side effects as guidance but not as a substitute for cautious and safe practices.<\/p>\n
Appropriate protective equipment is therefore always recommended when working with this, or any other, wood, exotic or domestic, unless you have worked with the species before and are certain you are not sensitive to it.<\/p>\n
Complete information about health hazards<\/a> associated with a wide variety of exotic hardwoods is available from The Wood Database<\/a>. Additional information about how to best use a dust collection system and personal protective equipment, such as respirators, can also be found through this excellent and comprehensive resource<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, I experienced no negative side effects when working with Eastern Red Cedar.<\/p>\n
My Personal Experiences<\/strong><\/h2>\n
I had several pieces of Eastern Red Cedar to work with and it was a new experience for me. The first thing I noticed was that the wood is very soft but nonetheless it cut incredibly cleanly and smoothly. I had honestly been apprehensive about using Eastern Red Cedar because I had been told by other wood turners to expect it to cut rough and fuzzy, as is common with very soft woods, so I was pleased to find that this was not after all a major issue.<\/p>\n
My pieces did have knots and that added some interest to the finished pieces, but caution is warranted because sometimes knots will come completely out, leaving large voids in the piece. In addition, there were several bark inclusions in the pieces I worked with. I discovered that those inclusions could catch the cutter, so again, caution is necessary especially when working with woods that have inherent imperfections.<\/p>\n
One problem I did encounter was that Eastern Red Cedar can be fairly weak when cutting divots on the bottom of a piece for chucking. On my first attempt, I clearly didn’t cut the divot deeply enough and it broke while on the lathe, so on additional pieces I made the divot deeper than usual to be certain that it would hold.<\/p>\n
Eastern Red Cedar didn’t require a great deal of sanding and it was easy to sand regardless although the oil does tend to gum up the sandpaper quite quickly. Using a more porous abrasive such as Abranet <\/a>helps with this problem, although even such net or mesh materials can gum as well if the oil content is high enough.<\/p>\n
Eastern Red Cedar takes on a nice high sheen once sanded to a very fine grit of at least 800.<\/p>\n
And of course, the smell in the shop is terrific! It occurred to me that, in fact, one could collect pure Eastern Red Cedar shavings to sell as ingredients for a sachet or even for potpourri blends.<\/p>\n
However, for all the good experiences I had with Eastern Red Cedar, and despite what I had read and repeated above, my experience with finishing it was quite terrible. Where the finish first touched the wood it was darker than any other spot no matter what I did. Even pouring finish directly on to other parts of the wood did not result in the same dark appearance. The end result was blotchy and unattractive. In fact, I felt that a nice piece of turning was ruined by my inability to get a decent finish applied.<\/p>\n
I considered using a spray lacquer to overcome this problem but I forgot this approach with additional pieces. Instead I used a wipe-on polyurethane only to discover that this can be a bad idea with oily woods such as cedar due to difficulties in drying, but I didn’t experience this problem and the polyurethane finish worked just fine for me. On later Eastern Red Cedar pieces I simply left them unfinished and this worked out best of all.<\/p>\n
Honestly, I was hesitant to use Eastern Red Cedar again due to the difficulties I encountered in finishing it, but once I realized that it looks just fine when left completely unfinished, and that this has the advantage of allowing the fragrance to continue to be smelled, then I was happy to work with it more. In fact, I purchased a fairly large number of blanks to use in the making of Christmas gift bowls for a relative. The process of experimentation with multiple small pieces along with reading about the wood I was working with allowed me to make my peace with a wood that I was fairly unhappy with at first. There is a lesson to be learned therein for all wood workers I suspect as well as for most everyone in different but similar applications.<\/p>\n
As always, I wish all my readers a great experience in whatever their wood working interests happen to be and to those who like working with lathes especially, do a good turn today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Honestly, I was hesitant to use Eastern Red Cedar again due to the difficulties I encountered in finishing it, but once I realized that it looks just fine when left completely unfinished, and that this has the advantage of allowing the fragrance to continue to be smelled, then I was happy to work with it more. In fact, I purchased a fairly large number of blanks to use in the making of Christmas gift bowls for a relative. The process of experimentation with multiple small pieces along with reading about the wood I was working with allowed me to make my peace with a wood that I was fairly unhappy with at first. There is a lesson to be learned therein for all wood workers I suspect as well as for most everyone in different but similar applications.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":175,"featured_media":2017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[128,138,139,130],"tags":[154,171,181,183,200,210,217,221,239,240,247],"yoast_head":"\nEastern Red Cedar - Wood Turning Pens ..<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Eastern Red Cedar is a highly aromatic wood, the scent of which almost everyone can recognize. 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