Thread: Cedar...?

I like Cedar for turning (waiting to buff a White Cedar bowl I turned today at the moment). It can make very nice pens and bowls as it reflects light differently on the long grain to cross grain which makes it flash sometimes. Cut it up, seal it and see what happens. The areas just under branches (my head isn't working properly and can't think of the correct term) can have some really nice figure too.

Can be a pain to turn as it will turn furry. Sand along the grain an dampen a little to assist with a good finish.

I've also found that you can also bevel rub too hard and crush the grain instead of just burnishing it.

However, it's a pleasant wood to turn, I enjoy the smell and so long as you keep on top of your tool control it turns fairly easily - even if you may need to do some extra sanding. Can be a bit bland in the grain dept. at times, though.

Thanks for the information, I'll try it and see................AL

I did some plain Red Cedar early in my pen career (a whole twelve months ago - lol). It turned and finished Ok for me, but when using it, I ended up putting dents in it pretty easily due to the softness. It'd need a good thick coat of CA to keep it tough.

Russell.

Good one Russell.............AL

I have just made a table top for some one that had a base that required a top
As I have a large amount of white cedar that is what I used.
Regards
David