SCI Joinery Gallery
Timbers - Western Red Cedar

Remarks, This is not a true Cedar, but is called so in the timber trade.

Family, Cupressaceae.
Genus, Thuja.
Species, Thuja plicata. The species name plicata derives from a Greek word meaning "folded in plaits", a references to the pattern of its small leaves.

Age, Up to 600-1000 years, the oldest verified being 1,460 years old.

Height, 70m in natural habitat. 40m in the UK.

Tree shape, Narrowly conical.

Leaf Type, Evergreen.

Leaves shape, Scale like, very small, glossy green above, white x shaped marks beneath, in flattened aromatic splays.

Flowering, March.

Flowers colour, Male red black opening yellow/Female yellow green.

Fruit, An ovoid upright cone 1.5 -2cm long yellow/green ripening to brown.

Bark, Purple brown peeling vertically.

Native region, North West of North America on the Pacific coast.

Natural habitat, Coastal areas, but also grows inland on mountains up to altitudes of 2,290m.

Weight, Air dried 350-370kg/m3.

Maturity, 20 years.

Soil type, Moist/damp.

Wood type, Softwood.

Timber colour, Red brown, silver brown with age.

To Europe, 1853.

Durability, Moderately durable. (1 very durable, 2 durable, 3 moderately durable, 4 slightly durable, 5 not durable).

Treatable, Extremely difficult. (Easy, moderate easy, difficult, extremely difficult).

Moisturise movement, Small.

Abrasions, Medium.

Texture, Coarse.

Environmental, Not listed as an endangered species.

Availability, Readily available at good timber merchants.

Cost, Medium.

Chemical properties, Fine dust from sanding can be an irritant. An acidic timber which can corrode metal in damp conditions, and cause stains on timber.

Drying, Thin sections dry easily with no warping or splitting, but with big sections care is needed. Once timber is dry no further problems will occur.

Working qualities, The timber can be worked easily with hand tools or machine, but can be brittle which can cause it be splinter or break out in some processes. British grown Western Red-cedar has generally more knots and is more prone to damage.
Tools need to be kept sharp, and care needs to be taken when planing, mortising or moulding.

Uses, Not so useful for heavy construction use, but good for wall and ceiling coverings, and shingles for roofing. Can be used for garden gates, decking, or other small garden structures.

Information, The Native American Indians used the timber to make their totem poles, and monoxyla canoes, (up to 38m). In 1901 the adventurer John Ross took three years to travel in one from British Columbia to London.
The bark was used by the Native American Indians to make fibres for clothing, rope, baskets, fishing line
It is a valued timber for it's aroma.
It has a very high resistance to decay, so it is very good for outside use.
Can be used to line cupboards and chests, its strong aroma is said to ward of moths and other insects.
It's timber can also be used a guitar soundboards.