Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata)
THE TREE Natural Range Pacific Coastal region from Oregon to Alaska as well as Idaho and Montana. Stature Grows to heights of 200 feet and diameters of 6 feet. THE WOOD Appearance Heartwood is a reddish-to-pinkish brown and the thin layer of sapwood is nearly entirely white. Straight grained and uniform but coarse in texture. Weight 23 lbs/ft3 @ 12% moisture content Hardness 350 lbf (kiln-dried) Workability Machines well and easy to work using hand tools. Tends to compress in planing and molding operations. Holds nails and screws well; accepts paint and finishes relatively well. Durability Dings and mars easily; resistant to very resistant to decay.
Data: Alden, Harry A., Softwoods of North America (Madison, WI: U.S.D.A. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory), 1997. Photography © Virginia Polytechnic Institute, U.S. Forest Service