Trip down memory lane, 42 feet of it.

[On Vacation]

Had to make a trip to smell some cedar and this is what I found. :D

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/pcec52d97d3440162bd366c238186a8b1/fdaaa886.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/p355544be6166c7b97bb8700c61530490/fdaaa891.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/pc2809fe391f94bf900e8953155abaf5a/fdaaa88c.jpg

[Wild Wassa]

Oyster, what timber do North Americans call Cedar? Western Red?, I thought there was a trend to reclassify species correctly. We are doing it in Oz.

My understanding is that, there are only 3 true Cedars. The Cedar of Lebanon (extinct in it's natural habitat), Japanese Cedar (unbelievable forests, I've had a small look), and Aussie Red (no shortages out here). This has been on my mind, for what seems an eternity. Please let me know. I have 'pondered' this for ages.

Warren.

ps, Aussie Red is also under review. Foresters and Botanists, I would love to know.

[ 06-08-2002, 06:13 AM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Bruce Taylor]

Warren, we commonly use the word cedar for...Western Red (Thuja plicata, I think), Eastern White (Thuja occidentalis), "Spanish" cedar (cedrella odorata), Alaskan yellow (chaemocyparis nootkatensis), aromatic cedar (can't remember the latin) and a few others. No doubt someone will chime in with the full list.

The word "cedar" might be "wrong," from a botanical / taxonomical point of view -- but we're not really concerned with botany here, are we? We're interested in the working properties of the lumber, and its behaviour when it is incorporated into a boat. From the woodworker's POV, the term is useful enough to keep, I think.

Here's my definition of "Cedar": A wood that smells cedary when you cut it.

[ 06-08-2002, 07:30 AM: Message edited by: Bruce Taylor ]

[Bruce Taylor]

Amazing boat, MIke.

[On Vacation]

Well I can only reply with a redneck definition. The cedar that is used white cedar, which we call juniper, which some know it as swamp cedar. It is pale white in color. It smells like cedar. It has more bending properties than the Western red cedar without breaking. The aromic cedar that is used in closet lining is dark and knotty cedar.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid15/pd7c8e0cfa0399f83fdd4f6aa28893d71/fde67f2f.jpg

The stem is even laminated with it most of the time, now instead of cross grain cutting.

[Bruce Taylor]

I expect that'd be Atlantic White cedar, or Chamaecyparis thyoides -- sometimes confused with Eastern White (or Northern White) which is a Thuja.

[On Vacation]

If it smells like cedar, it must be cedar. Thanks for the proper name. I will store that in my logbook for later referral. smile.gif Hard to get away from it. I am finally going to start myself a little fellow about 16' out of that "cedar" next weekend. But for this weekend, a pig and aluminum cans are in order. Pictures to drool over tommorrow.

[Northernguy59]

In your guys humble opinon, what is the best planking material out of all the "cedars"?

Is Tamarack (Larix Iaricina) which is from the "Fir" family and also called Larch and Hackamatack a viable planking material?

Oyster theres nothing like the smell of "cedar" is there? I,m home sick :(

[ 06-08-2002, 03:42 PM: Message edited by: Northernguy59 ]

[Wild Wassa]

Thank you Gentlemen. Brilliant.

There are three reasons why I ask, one disturbs me, having been a long term Cedar sander. At the Australian National University (here in Canberra), in the School of Fine Arts, Fine Furniture Workshop, 'all' Cedar has been banned. Cedar (I presume the real culprit is Aussie Red) is sending the kids troppo. One or two students spat the dummy when exposed to the smell and fumes, wrecking the workshop, the Lecturers have had enough. Every year for decades so I'm told (by a calm student) the 'new intake' goes troppo, and the odd student becomes very aggressive. I think I can relate to this as a user. How are your materials in relation to this problem?

Secondly, are your Cedars also carcinogenic?

Thirdly, is silicosis a problem with your Cedars? All Australian timbers are very high in silicates. This problem is augmented by prolonged fine sanding without proper protection. If you are also a potter, you cop a double dose.

Oyster, good luck and progress with the new ventures.

Northernguy59, Coachwood and Huon Pine, are truely distinctive smells as well and I think, equally rich.

Warren.

[ 06-08-2002, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Memphis Mike]

No harm in dreaming, huh?

[Bruce Taylor]

Haven't heard of silicosis in connection with the cedars, but western red (like redwood) is associated with sequoiosis. Something like half of woodworkers who work the stuff will eventually develop asthma. The main culprit, I think, is plicatic acid, but no doubt there are other pesticidal and antifungal chemicals in the wood that enable it to withstand decay. Anything that kills moth larva should be treated with respect, I think.

I used to have allergic reactions to thuja p., but after not using the stuff for a couple of years I seem to have gotten over it. Strange.

[TomRobb]

For my education:
"Troppo", "spat the dummy", and "a potter" meanwhat?
:confused:

[Bruce Hooke]

Originally posted by TomRobb:
For my education:
"Troppo", "spat the dummy", and "a potter" meanwhat? I was wondering the same thing except on the last item. There I'm fairly sure he is using the same term we use here...those who work with clay ('potters') must be rather careful to avoid over-exposure to silica dust because silica is one of the basic components of clay...

[Donn]

trõ'ppõ : a. (Aust. sl.) mad, eccentric,
from living in the heat etc of the tropics (gone troppo).

Spit the dummy : get very upset at something...throw a fit

[Northernguy59]

Thanks Don.......... :rolleyes:

[John B]

Yes, I used this recently without taking into account one of those little differences we see from time to time. A dummy you would call a pacifier. so when the sprog gets to that state of high anxiety in which it " spits the dummy", A lesser soul might say something like" listen here, ankle biter, shut that cake hole up right now or there will be no vegemite sammys for smoko for you"

[On Vacation]

Speaking of troppo, here in redneck land, we call the same actions a "pure tee hissey fit." Some here go off the deep end with just epoxy use here. The major brand that we all know will do this over a period of time

[Wild Wassa]

Donn, Troppo is not slang. It has transcended slang, through common usage. Potters are all clay sculptors. 'And' yes to spit the dummy does mean to 'lose it', in a big way.

Bruce H and Tom, My dear wife, Helen, tells me that I should try to be internationally understood. I will try harder.

Bruce T, Thankyou. When I go to Aussie sites, I call back in a month. When I go to an English site, all my questions are moderated. Never posted and not replied to.

Warren.

ps, Why would I want to go anywhere else?

[ 06-10-2002, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Wild Wassa]

Oyster, I had to go and smell some Cedar and this is what I found.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid22/p40fc67329095dde6903285c73dae8b17/fda7b32f.jpg

Mount Nightcap World Heritage Rainforest Park on the hill. (ca.1994)

Warren.

ps, The smoke is from sugar cane fires. When I took the photo, the Cedar Getters had been through about thirty years before.

[ 06-11-2002, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[ken mcclure]

Crikey! The hills really are purple!!!

[Allen Foote]

Oyster...tell us about the boat. What kind of power will she have? Is it strip plank epoxy coated? West System? Nice carolina flare! Reminds me of some of Custom skiffs pics. :D

[On Vacation]

Mr. Farte, it is strip planked wood with sh,shush, &@%#$)*^^%$$s covered and finished with, ish, baba, Alwquip primer. Who is Custom scarfs?? It will have those big stinky metal incased rubber bands from "Gotta Mechanic Coming" Rabbits.