Cedar

Re: Cedar

Dave MacLuskie

>The most painful part about turning cedar for me is the sanding. I swear the stuff leaves scratches if you look at it funny. It seems quite fine grained, but is very soft.

I'd wear a good mask. The smell is pleasant, but the dust can be over powering. (My wife likes the way it makes the garage smells.)

The burls should be really fun. I love it when the red heartwood and the white sapwood swirl together.

Re: Cedar

RevDoug

>Use respirtory protection by all means. You may also want to use all the dust protection you can. Several have talked lately about developing allergies and allergic reactions to cedar.

Re: Cedar

Carl Bordelon

>Thanks for the reponse guys.

If I don't mess it up I'll post some pics after I turn something out of it.

Re: Cedar

Carole in VA

>Be sure your tools are sharp and use light cuts! I find that I get breakout in cedar if I so much a look at it funny! I turned a crossgrain pen from it the other day but unfortunately I got a blow out on the last revolution of the lathe! :-( I went ahead and put a finish on the remaining piece just to see what it looked lke and the chatoyance was amazing.

Re: Cedar

Leo Van Der Loo

>Carl I have turned dry Juniper and find that it turns well, and yes you always need sharp tools if you turn wood, the twisting grain makes for a need to keep a sharp eye on the angles you keep your tool to the wood, so you cut and not pluck or scrape, start sanding with a finer initial sandpaper so you don't tear the grain.

The Juniper as well as the western Thuja and eastern Thuja (aka, by their invalid name, Cedar) have a natural fungicide that keeps the wood from rotting for an extended time, and for that you should use breathing protection as well as for the wood dust. I have a picture of some weed pots that I turned this past summer and will include for your perusal.

Have fun and take care.

Leo V

Re: Cedar

Carl Bordelon

>Sorry to hear you had a blow out on the pen.

That tells me the cedar needs a real easy touch and is prone to brakeing.

I'll try and see if I can do the wood justice.

Re: Cedar

Carl Bordelon

>Those look great.Thanks for the pics and the advice.

I hope I can do right by this wood.I don't know what size's my friend is sending.

But as they say Free wood is Good wood.