West Red Cedar and Clamps

[Tom Hoffman]

In Iowa, I have been having a very difficult time finding nice western red cedar, this morning I found some really nice Western Red Cedar 2 X 6's 20' long and virtually clear. It will take some milling on my part to get the required 3/8 X 3/4 strips our of them, but the cost difference between 1 X 4 clear red cedar and these is more than worth the hassle of the extra work.

Also since strippers need many clamps, I have found that at Home Depot the have a nice smaller spring clamp for $1.00 each, just bought 50 and I dont believe that will be enough. That is enough for one side.

Oh well.....

Onward and upward.....

[George Roberts]

Harbor Freight website had (has) 6" bar clamps for $1.69.

Very good price.

[dmede]

you can make simple home made clamps out of ABS or PVC pipe cut into rings with one end split open so that it can be opened into a C.

or you can glue 3/8" x 3/4" x 6" strips of cheap wood (think Home Depot molding) to each other with a small block of wood as a spacer at one end. Use a this wedge to apply pressure on whatever your clamping.

[Rod Tait]

I am curious if you would share the cost of the clear lumber that you bought and was it old growth with tight grain and what is the orientation of the grain? Always interested to see what others are paying in comparison to local cedar here in BC.

[Tom Hoffman]

Rod, I haven't picked them out yet, by the yard that I deal with is very good at getting exactly what I want. The boards are not perfectly clear, but I should be able to mill several strips out of them that will be clear. Last time I bought clear cedar 1X4 20' they were $50 each.

The 2X6 20' are $29 each.

On the 1X4 I got 8 3/8" strips, I believe I should be able to get at least 12 and perhaps more out of the 2X6.

Will let you know.

Tom....

[Tom Hoffman]

Rod, Went to pick out the w Red Cedar, ended up with only one 2X6 and one 2X4 all the rest were junk, gosh, thought I'd found a deal.

Oh well, guess I will buy clear red cedar siding, and just have to deal with the bevels and get as much good wood out of each piece as possible.

Tom....

[Dan Lindberg]

Tom,

If you ever get up to MPLS, go to Scherer Bros Lumberyard, the store off I35W. They carry Aye grade (clear) red cedar to 20ft. They are only open M-F till 3:30 though. If you don't mind splices, they carry D grade to 16 ft at the MPLS store.

Also, I'm told that the hardwood lumber yard in the eastern subs also caries clear cedar, though I haven't confirmed it myself.

Dan