View Full Version : Any concerns substituting cypress for white cedar?
SScoville
12-05-2009, 01:39 PM
My concerns are whether or not cypress would shrink and swell more than white cedar.
I've read that cypress can soak up a lot of water over time. I do not plan to leave the boat in the water for more than a week at a time.
I'm considering planking the bottom as Harry Bryan describes in the article about building his Ladybug - double cross planked diagonally with each layer of planking at 40 degrees to the other.
Bob Smalser
12-06-2009, 03:17 PM
Yes, Baldcypress shrinks and swells more than the light cedars, by around half again as much. And it is also around 40% heavier.
But it's also harder and stronger by similar amounts and is a proven planking wood. You can probably reduce the scantling over what you'd use for cedar to save some weight.
Order of Stability in Wood Species
Percent Shrinkage Green to Oven Dry as an Indicator of Relative Seasonal Stability
Radial
Tangential
(R+T)/2
(Flatsawn) (Quartersawn) (Riftsawn)
Northern White Cedar 2.2
4.9
3.5
Honduras Mahogany 3.0
4.1
3.5
Khaya 2.5
4.5
3.5
Redwood, 2d Growth 2.2
4.9
3.5
Western Red Cedar 2.4
5.0
3.7
Eastern Red Cedar 3.1
4.7
3.9
Atlantic White Cedar 2.9
5.4
4.1
Eastern White Pine 2.1
6.1
4.1
Teak 2.5
5.8
4.15
Incense Cedar 3.3
5.2
4.25
Alaska Yellow Cedar 2.8
6.0
4.4
Purpleheart 3.2
6.1
4.65
South American Cedar 4.0
6.0
5.0
Iroko 4.0
6.0
5.0
Sassafras 4.0
6.2
5.1
Okoume 4.1
6.1
5.1
Spanish Cedar 4.2
6.3
5.25
Black Cherry 3.7
7.1
5.4
Black Spruce 4.1
6.8
5.45
Tamarack 3.7
7.4
5.55
Baldcypress 3.8
6.2
5.6
Port Orford Cedar 4.6
6.9
5.75
Dark Red Meranti 3.8
7.9
5.85
Black Locust 4.6
7.2
5.9
Sitka Spruce 4.3
7.5
5.9
Sapele 4.6
7.4
6.0
Douglas Fir 4.8
7.6
6.2
Longleaf Pine 5.1
7.5
6.3
White Ash 4.9
7.8
6.35
Black Ash 5.0
7.8
6.4
Yellow Poplar 4.6
8.2
6.4
Rock Elm 4.8
8.1
6.45
Slash Pine 5.4
7.6
6.5
Apitong 4.6
8.2
6.5
Light Red Meranti 4.6
8.5
6.55
Black Walnut 5.5
7.8
6.65
Tangile 4.3
9.1
6.7
Western Larch 4.5
9.1
6.8
Angelique 4.6
8.2
7.0
Ipe 6.6
8.0
7.3
White Oak 5.3
9.1
8.0
Live Oak 6.6
9.5
8.0,
Greenheart 8.8
9.6
9.2
SScoville
12-06-2009, 04:41 PM
I need to find a local source of white cedar.
Try Anchor Hardwoods in Wilmington. I got some cedar strips from them a while back and was very happy. They list white cedar on the web site.
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