A Beginners Guide to Cedar - One of the Most Versitile Woods Around!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- I love working with #Cedar. It is a beautiful and versatile wood and smells AMAZING, It is also really misunderstood. In this video I discuss the qualities of Cedar lumber and why it is so popular. I also discuss some lesser known facts about cedar and explain the difference between true cedar and false cedar. This video is a must for any beginning #woodworker looking to start working with cedar.
#woodworking
Thanks for watching. If you liked this video be sure to subscribe and check out the other videos on my channel. www.youtube.co...
Contact: dave@diywithdave.com
Here is a list of all of the tools that I use in my projects:
Kreg Pocket Hole Jig - amzn.to/3p7TcRG
Kreg Clamp - amzn.to/3pa12ug
Kreg Concealed Hinge Jig - amzn.to/3G7Dtdh
Kreg Shelf Pin Jig - amzn.to/3p4AKtZ Dewalt Cordless Drill/Driver - amzn.to/3eE1qvX
Dewalt Compound Miter Saw - amzn.to/2I8M1s1
Sears Craftsman Jointer - vintagemachiner...
Craftsman Jointer Replacement Blades - amzn.to/38mAj7w
Titebond III Wood Glue - amzn.to/3k93eyo
Dewalt 735 Thickness Planer - amzn.to/2IfKujC
Wen Track Saw - amzn.to/3lbSJNY and Track - amzn.to/314617W
Bosch Jig Saw - amzn.to/3rbG3dV
Japanese Pull Saw - amzn.to/3CZfMSh
Irwin Clamps - amzn.to/3CVdBiI
Shaker Rail and Stile Router Bits - amzn.to/3DWGuMM
Bosch Benchtop Router Table RA1181 - amzn.to/314kHnw
Bosch Mini Router - amzn.to/3HVdibb
Porter Cable Router - www.lowes.com/...
Plunge Router Base - amzn.to/3nTK2tx
Rockler Dovetail Jig - amzn.to/3nY7mqa
Porter Cable Brad Nailer - amzn.to/3lcwmrO
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links and at no additional cost to you I may earn a commission. Know that I only recommend products and tools that I’ve personally used and/or believe are genuinely helpful, not because of the modest commission I may receive should you decide to purchase one of them. Most of all, I would never advocate for buying something that you can’t afford or do not need.
In my experience it's a brittle wood to work with. But as mentioned it smells wonderful, initially has beautiful contrasts in color, and is lightweight. I have made jewelry boxes, catch trays, and plaques with it. I have even made some pistol grips out of the wood just recently. I don't believe it's the best wood to use for pistol grips but it's still really fun to look at.
It also sands and finishes really easily and well. At least compared to red oak and walnut, aromatic cedar produces a very smooth surface.
All true. I think that brittle is the best word to describe it.
Really informative & well presented. Thank you Dave!
Built my first deck with PT structural members and cedar. I used 2x6’s and 2x8’s for the decking and railings. Man, did it smell great for awhile. When I installed it, I recall that it was rated to last 15 years in such an environment. It did, right to the year. I was able to rip up the decking with my bare hands. Most of the decking had turned to mulch, especially around the galvanized screws. The PT frame underneath looked brand new. The new decking is IPE. You have to drill for every stainless steel screw. Thirteen years later, still looks great with a new deck stain every four years. Ipe was not available the first time and Trex had not yet improved beyond a gray industrial look. Cedar was the best choice over 5/4 PT boards.
My only feedback on this video is i wish you talked a little more in detail on working with cedar for its most common uses (like outdoor furniture for example) and how to treat it/finish it etc. Otherwise very good info and I enjoyed getting some education on not just the wood itself but the historical relevance! Not something you hear a lot about on woodworking channels.
Great feedback, thanks!
It's one of my favorite scents. I always get asked what my perfume is because it smells so good. I actually apply some drops of cedarwood and bergamot.
Its great for making fishing lures, easy to turn & shape
I’m certainly no expert by any stretch of the imagination so bare that in mind as you read.
since I used to build top bar beehives, I’ve worked with WRC more than any other wood. I really love the stuff. It is a sensitizer wood though (if you’re not allergic to it, there is a high probability of building an allergy to it over time). After building hundreds of beehives, I have noticed that I have become a little tiny bit sensitive to it now but it’s not an issue for me. Don’t let that discourage you from using/working with it. Just maybe don’t be a dummy like me and never wear a respirator. A dust mask however is purely a false sense of security in my opinion (clearly it’s to some extent better than nothing). My experience with WRC is that it expands and contracts across its width an impressive amount. I can’t speak to the properties of well seasoned WRC though because generally my wood shipments would arrive green and I would have to stack, sticker and run fans over it for a number of weeks to dry it enough to work with it. As everyone knows, It’s not ideal to rapidly dry any wood. But that said and mind you I’m not super aware of the expansion/contraction rates of other woods but often I would find my final glue ups to have expanded or contract quite a lot more than I had expected. In some cases over night. Yeah it’s weird when you have a shelf of dimensioned glue ups and start to assemble your boxes and are like “wait a minute I know I ripped these to precisely 11 1/4” wide why is this board 11 1/8” or 11 5/16” wide, did my table saw fence slip”? Then realized oh duh, these boards are still shrinking and or the humidity changed drastically lol”
What is the difference between the cedar used in fence boards and the type used to build with?
Thanks for the info 😊
The floor joists in my kitchen, bathroom and mudroom are logs. I think these logs are cedar but I am not certain. These rooms were probably added onto my house in the 1940's or 50's. The bathroom and mudroom were probably a porch at one time because the exterior siding is on the walls. My house is in Florida. It has a pier and beam type of foundation.
Great stuff!
Thanks!
Can you paint or stain new cedar fence, if so how long should you wait to do it after a fence has been installed? Or should you not do it?
I am planning to build a "catio" (outdoor enclosure for cats). I do not want to use pressure treated wood because it may be toxic to the animals. I do not mind the costs, but I am having a hard time finding any wood which is structurally sound. Most wood I find in the lumber yards and stores (in Texas) is full of knots. At $20 for a single 2*4*8 I have to order twice what I need, just to find enough pieces which are usable. In fact it is so bad, that I even consider using oak. While oak is twice the costs of cedar, it is also significantly stronger and I can use thinner planks.
I see on the internet beautiful outdoor constructions made from cedar, but where do they find the wood... I certainly cannot find it.
Any thoughts on cedar for kitchen backsplash.
over the past year I've developed an itch that is overwhelming. I've got it more of less under control with various medications but it still persists though at a lower intensity. This video states that Cedar can cause itching so I'm wondering if I have developed my itch from the cedar dust I've been exposed to? And I've been exposed to a lot of dust from milling sawing and sanding. Now let me add that there is no rash anywhere on my body or pimple like lumps or anything else that would indicate any kind of problem. But the itch was beyond my endurance and though I'm on meds to control it I'd like to get off those meds and live a normal -for me - life. Does anything in my letter sound familiar?
If you are working with Cedar a lot, then yes, that could definitely be the cause. I am not a doctor, but I have heard of people developing allergies to things when they have a lot of exposure. It's definitely donething to look into. Good luck!
Hey there
I'm making some planter boxes with western red cedar and wondered if glue helps or not?
What is the difference between cedar and construction grade cedar? I am planning on building raised garden beds. Thanks!
Most cedar that you can buy at big box stores is western redcedar. It is mostly used for fences and patios. I am not sure exactly what they mean by "construction grade," but I am guessing that it has to do with quality. It may have more knots and imperfections but should still be good to use for garden beds.
@DIY with Dave thank you for the info! I was at a local lumber yard and they had both. They were trying to steer me to construction grade based on their assumption I was on a tight budget. The look of the construction grade did have several knots and the boards werent nearly as straight as the other cedar.
Glad I could help!
Is Arbor Vitae a Cedar? Can it be used to make "cedar shakes? What, if anything, can Arbor Vitae be used for?
What about burning Cedar and/or Arbor Vitae scaps and logs in the woodstove?
Any one have knowledge or experience, 'do's and don'ts, with this Arbor Vitae wood?
I want to start selling cedar wood, where do i start? i need help understanding
Cedar is apparently a repellent to spiders. Im looking to get cedar wood rings for my coat hamgers to keep spiders out of the closet. How do i know i have Real cedar wood rings? Is there a test i can do to find out?
biggest thing I've learned working with cedar. its an absolute nightmare to get consistent results when staining smooth cedar. two board that looks almost identical will often yield shockingly different results when staining it. it makes me nuts!!!
I just recently picked up some cedar, I’m not sure what type. It definitely looks like the heartwood color and it’s very aromatic. But I’ve noticed it has quite a few, worm holes in it. If it’s resistant to bugs, what are these worm holes?
Big-resistant vs bug-proof. Lol. There's always some bug somewhere that will want to munch on your wood.
Thanks info
Q, will those false cedar woods would make a good wood?
Do they both have same quality?
It isn't that true cedars are better than false cedars; they are just different. It is all a matter of classification. False cedars, like western redcedar and eastern redcedar, can be fantastic woods. It all depends upon what you are doing. Different types of cedar are good for different applications.
Hope that helps!
@@DIYwithDave thanks, for dye keda dye is best for me, checkout in yt
Does it hurt chickens to live in a cedar shed?
A cedar shed would be great for a chicken coop. That said, cedar bedding (i.e. sawdust/shavings) is not safe to use for chickens.
@@DIYwithDave Okay, I believe you, but doesn't it seem odd that cedar shavings would not be OK, but the cedar shed would? Are chickens allergic to cedar or not? Makes me wonder why...Is it because they kick up cedar dust by scratching in the shavings?
Cigar Humidors
All Stores Please lower the price of all Military and Local for all brands of Ceder Products and Accessories and Production Cost Now That's too much $$ The Whole World Now Pray
I milled up 400+ cedar balusters for my sons deck. After working with it for a few days, the smell reminded me of pencil sharpener shavings. I was transported back to my elementary school days. Most of those memories were pleasant.
I've been a lifetime woodworker and learned some new things from your video. Forty years ago I worked in a cabinet shop. When customers came to the shop the secretary would come through the door to the shop from the showroom and give us the high sign. We kept a piece of aromatic cedar by a table saw and would rip a small strip. The comment that customers would say "This smells like a wood shop." Do what you have to to make a sale.
I want to get all my cabinets site built. It's hard to find a carpenter.
@@CBBC435 I don't understand why one would want site build cabinets. Also having a carpenter build cabinets is not a good idea. Perhaps a finish carpenter may have the skills to site build cabinets. Framing a home and building cabinets are two different skill sets. It is not practical to provide all the tools for modern cabinets on site. Face frame or frameless type cabinets require specialized equipment.
I'm building some cabinets in my garage right now, but I have thousands of dollars worth of tools. Also budling the cabinets is only the first step. After the cabinets are built one must apply a finish. A good cabinet shop will have a finishing area with a dust free environment and a spray booth. Being able to apply stain, sanding sealer and at least two coats of catalyzed lacquer or polyurethane is challenging on the job site. Purchasing quality cabinets from a reputable cabinet shop is well worth the cost. (Just my opinion.)
@@stevenpierce9403 Bad choices of words on my part. I should have said custom built cabinets and I should have said a cabinet maker. My wants are simple, especially for the laundry area.
@@stevenpierce9403 Plenty of carpenters can build cabinets well...in years past, the house carpenters always built the cabinets on site. It isn't unusual, even today.
Thanks for the video. I did not know that cedar can be toxic to the lungs. I was planning on sanding it. I will with the appropriate protective gear.
I love the stuff. Hand planes beautifully. A pleasure to work. A little brittle for some types of joinery but doable.
Brittle ... that's a good word for it. It glues up great though.
This was awesome! I can't wait for the next wood in the "Beginners Guide" series! Many viewers are speculating that the next wood in the series will be Oak. However, I think the smart money's on Pine.
Hahah
I subbed because I’m also hoping he will do that
All Stores Please Lower the price of all Military and Local for all Brands of Cedar Products and Accessories and Production Cost That's too much $$ The Whole World Now 🙏🙏🙏
I built a cedar sauna recently, turned out great. I had a bad wheezy cough and clogged nose for 4 days. Use a dust mask!!
Definitely wear a mask! A sauna... maybe that should be my next project. 🤔
I have taken up on the nickname, 'Cedar'
Folks do wonder why
I often ask myself that. Perhaps it was because I was a lumber yard laborer, or maybe because I saw juniper burn like crazy, or maybe because of what I read in the Bible. Whatever the reason, my nickname became 'Cedar'
It's a great name!
I'm trying to make dovetail box with what I believe is UK white cedar. It is difficult to plane or chisel. It's very brittle and one of the tails snapped off when I was tidying up the joint. And that was on my first joint ( I would love to have some of aromatic, featured wood you are using in the US!
Very useful video, thanks for posting.
has anyone had lingering eye irritation, weeks after cutting/installing? I put cedar planks in my cabin and still struggle with swollen, itchy eyes.
I ordered some Yesterday and i read that the Wooddust from it is Not deadly poisonous but still Not really healthy and is considered as harmful. They also say that beechdust or General hard-and tropical Wooddust is harmful but i can Tell you, as Long as you dont eat the dust or sniff IT on purpouse, IT doesnt get dangerous. I dont use a suction system, because as a 17 year old Carpenter apprentice, i cant afford one at Home. But everytime i Sand some tropical wood, I wear a mask because some wood can stink a Lot :P. Teak smells Like Shit but olivewooddust ist a dream :).
It is unusual for it to linger after so long. Generally, those symptoms would be related to an allergic reaction, which would clear up in a day or two at most once you were removed from the source of the irritation. I see that it has been a while now. How are you doing?
Aside from the occasional allergic reaction, the real problem with wood dust is getting it in your lungs.
Afternoon Dave, great video. Question, how are some ways to fill in nail holes in cedar so they blend in and will not show, at least not obvious. I’ve tried mixing cedar saw dust with glue and other things but have not had much luck yet. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance!
-Brian
You have a few options; you could use a plain wood filler or even just wood glue. The best option may be to use a wax filler, just make sure that you get a color that matches. You could also lean into it and make your piece more rustic. Especially if the holes are large.
Sanding dust and epoxy. Looks like a pin knot or colored visual defect.
Interesting. I did not know that. Could any of these be used as flooring?
I have never heard of cedar being used as flooring. If it was old growth, tigh grain, and heartwood, then maybe it would be hard enough, but I still doubt it.
Thank you Dave!! Great information. I recent;y pirchased a Charmeleon Gazebo Kit made with 20 year old cedar wood from subtropical regions. What would be the best finish to apply to preserve the wood. I considered boiled linseed oil or tung oil. What do you recommend.
You said there are only 4 true cedars in the world (all outside of the USA). You said the two cedars found in North America (Western Red Cedar, and Eastern Red Cedar) are actually FALSE cedars. What then is the Eastern WHITE Cedar other youtube videos talk about, here in the USA? Is it another false cedar?
Helpful video!! You have a favorite lumber supplier in North Texas you could recommend to get Cedar cheaper than at Home Depot/Lowes?
I have applied a polyacrylic finish to a cedar panel and let it dry in the garage for two days. Put it out in the sun and within an hour I have numerous bubbles all over it. Why?
Just got a bike with rear rack and want to make a crate to attach. Cedar might be the ticket.
A woodworker now,as a boy iwas always climbing trees,my idea of heaven was to climb the cedartree near my home,heavenly days.
Pretty sure the outer wood is the resistant part
The ones from west Coast are real cedar, not the same as Eastern Red cedar.
Oh, too bad you don't have smell-o-vision!❤😂
What about eastern WHITE cedar?
What about the cedar in south àmerica?
How to treat western red cedar in a sauna?
"Western red cedar" and "eastern red cedar" are both junipers and as such are members of the cyprus family. If you will look at the chart, real cedars aren't found in the US.
He said that at time stamp 1:10 onward. Some pay attention, eh?
Love the smell , rot proff. , bugs hate it . very expensive .
I think snakes detest it as well
I've recently made a license plate frame out of a cedar log and trying to replicate it has been hell. I feel lucky I've gotten one but a matching set would be nice
Something small like that could be tough as cedar can be brittle. Good luck!
Dave, your channel is fantastic! I thought this genre was pretty played out, but your intelligent twist on woodworking, reno, and DIY are a breath of fresh air! I’ve really enjoyed your discussions on the economics of raw material pricing. Keep posting! It’s really enjoyable content.
I just came across your comment. Thank you so much. I appreciate it!
Very Informative and engaging. Way to go sir. AAAANND you gave us an idea for a video for our channel! Thanks!
Tuned in for gluing information. Did not get any.......but the other information was great!.
Ahh, I finally found someone who like cedar, woohoo !
I am using yellow one (in France) and I would love to work more with it, red included .
Cedar isn't that popular, maybe cause of the sensitive people to it but I really like it !
An excellent tutorial on cedar. Unfortunately, Northern Arizona big box lumber stores such as Home Depot don't stock the sizes I need, e.g., 1x6x8'.
Great channel. Quick question I'm residing a century old building that currently has pine beveled clapboard siding. We are going to add a rainscreen to the building and are wondering are we better to use a Canadian Western Red or Eastern white cedar. We plan to clear paint stain the finish and paint all 6 sides.
Western red is considerably dense grain over eastern white. Thinking that this will add to longevity.
We are coastal. Environment
Thanks
I love red cedar! Fantastic aroma! Great to work. Yet soaks up finishes.the sound for guitars is so good!
Thanks for the video. Very informative. I am just beginning to build an outdoor grill table made out of cedar.
I love cedar. as a young girl I would visit my great grandmother in the country and in her breeze room it was all paneled in Cedar. It was the original stuff it wasn’t any of this fake paneling that they put up on walls these days it was the real deal
I recently bought some spanish cedar trays that were shipped from china. I'm not sure if it's actually cedar. What does cedar smell like? Would a carpenter or woodworker be able to identify what it is?
Now if only I could get a lumber yard to know the difference, they just say " We have red cedar " Great, not helpful if your looking for Aromatic cedar
Is it true that this is not good to use as your fence post? While in line buying some for my fence project, a guy walks up to me and says cedar is not good for fence post, but it will rot out quick. Any legitimacy to this?
What is the best way to get a gloss shine on your cedar with the least effort? Over cedar that has color strain applied, I know that I can’t use a brush or you will mix the colors.
I need to buy several hundred board feet for a large pergola…. any idea where to get rough cedar for a good price? Im in Michigan.
@0:26 the epic of king gilgemesh brought him to face a monster, in order to claim red cedar from the mountains for great doors and other works.
My mid-century house is framed in western red cedar. I have removed framing members and sawing them smells like cedar.
Interesting! Where are you located? PNW?
@@DIYwithDave Southeast Alabama
@@DIYwithDave It's a brick ranch style house, built in 1968.
That is fascinating because Western redcedar only grows in the Pacific Northwest, which means that it was shipped to Alabama. Also, being built in 1968 would mean that it was coming from old growth forests. That has to be some great quaility wood. It likely has a very tight grain, which means that it is very stable. That's amazing. Thanks for sharing!
@@DIYwithDave yes
1 question, how about Japanese Cedar(also called suji), any idea?
Anastasia by Vladimir Megre, the book.
Good info.
Thanks!
Excellent information, well spoken.
Great explanation of the different cedars.
Go Utes!!!!
Ive just tried 1st attempt using cedar with CNC. Was very stringy, lots of broken surface ends on cut lines,. Very disappointed at finish 100x worse than cheap pine or ply.
What can i do to stabilise the wood for high speed milling and having a clean finish?
Are you machining western or eastern red cedar? They are very different, western is soft and a bit stringy compared to red cedar. I mill my own red cedar trees (because it grows here) into lumber and do quite a bit CNC machining on it and don't have a problem. It a soft wood so tool wear isn't a big deal.
New Brunswick eastern Canada and same in Your north east Maine. White cedar. You forgot about this. Is it fake cedar? I consider it the Real cedar. The stuff is majestic. I live right next to an ancient grove of it
White cedar is also a species of juniper, closely related to eastern red cedar. There are no true cedars native to North America.
Great question. White cedar is the third most common cedar in North America. It is a false cedar. It is actually a cypress; very similar to western redcedar but lighter in color.
I’ve always loved cedar since growing up with my parents cedar chest in the house despite the place it was used and stored. It was always more beautiful on the inside than the outside. My brother has it now and it is as beautiful as ever both inside and out.
I’m a producer and exporter of Eastern Red Cedar logs and lumber. 🌲🪓
That's awesome! Where are you located? Any interesting tidbits?
Morse Bluff, Nebraska. I’ve noticed three different grain patterns in the Eastern Redcedar in my area. Not sure if this has been documented.
I run a small hobby bandsaw mill in Alabama. Family has 1,000 acre property in the black belt and we have groves of straight and tall Red Cedar everywhere. Its all I mill up. Wonderful wood to work with and build projects out of. I use it for everything. Built my entire Screened porch out of it.
@@charlesharrison363any tips for a first timer planing rough cut eastern red cedar?