About the wood
Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Eastern Red Cedar is a juniper that has been called cedar since Pliny, and the wood everyone knows from a grandparent's chest. Small knotty trees, narrow slabs, and a scent that does not quit.
- Janka
- 900 lbf
- Density
- 33.0 lb/ft³
- Origin
- Eastern North America
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern
Working & finishing
Easy to work overall, though the high silica content dulls cutters, so the shop sharpens before the final planer pass and changes sander paper more often than on poplar. Glues and finishes well. A clear oil or hardwax keeps the red-and-cream contrast and lets the scent through; a film finish seals the scent in. Reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation in some people, so dust collection matters.
Care
Wipe spills and clean with a damp cloth. At 900 lbf it is a medium top but brittle at the knots, so avoid dropping hard objects on knot clusters. Rated excellent against decay and insects, so it can live outdoors, but any wood outside grays and moves without an annual oil.