Catalpa or white cedar

[ssor]

Quality white cedar is almost non-existant in Harford county MD. Does anyone have experience with catalpa wood? It is very durable, light, brittle, and easily worked with hand tools. The same is said for white cedar. Any tree strong enough to support its self will probably be strong enough to support a man in a boat. New here but not new to boats.
SSOR (reversed because there are too many otherwise) ;)

[Bob Smalser]

Make a spreadsheet of strength, elasticity and hardness and shrinkage factors of all the woods you are proposing this substitute for and see.

More akin to Sassafras than AW Cedar, but not brittle at all....about on a par with Western Red Cedar.

http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/techmenu.html

[ 01-15-2005, 12:09 AM: Message edited by: Bob Smalser ]

[ssor]

Thanks, Bob. We have several good sawmills here and I think if I ask them to watch for some catalpa I will be well supplied.