>I love turning cedar. Most bugs don't like it...guess that's why it's good as a closet lining! I have found that it will crack and check quickly though, so be sure to seal what you are not going to use immediately. I also try to remove the pith. The sap wood on cedar will spalt and can make for a very pretty turning. So far I have not taken any special steps with my tools after turning green wood except to wipe them dry. Do clean up the shavings on and around your lathe and in your DC or shop vac, though to prevent rust on the iron and mould on the filters.
never tried it green, heck i dont even think it grows here in long island,ny though i could be wrong.
i make my native american style flutes from it mostly.and love the scent! i always feel like im in a large gerbil cage more than a highend closet haha.
>I've never really understood what 'aromatic' cedar meant. Is this a species of cedar or a term for any cedar that smells? If the later, is there any cedar that is not aromatic?
We have tons of mountain cedar (that's the common name, actually it's ash juniper) 'round here and it smells strongly when turned. My wife likes the smell but it reminds me too much of hamster cages for me. Would this be considered 'aromatic' cedar?
>Aromatic cedar, to me, means Easter Red Cedar. It has the deep purple-red heart wood, cream sap wood and seems to a little harder and more aromatic than the other "cedars" I have worked with like Western Red Cedar and Spanish Cedar. Though Spanish is pretty aromatic it is a tropical deciduous tree (not even sure if it is a true cedar) while Eastern Red Cedar is coniferous. It finishes with a beautiful luster.
>That's what this was (easter red cedar). Actually, the piece I grabbed was a small crotch. I turned it with the grain parallel to the lathe (probably a mistake), and made a little thin-walled cup out of it. I placed it in a couple of paper-bags, right next to a recently turned birch bowl, and I'm waiting for the magic of warping to give both pieces cool shapes....although I have steeled my nerves for the likelihood of cracking...
This was pretty much newbie experimentation. But I will say one thing about the experiment - I'm glad I'm wearing eye protection, because a sizeable chunk of birch pith came right out and smacked the right lens dead on, faster than you can say "catch". But that's another topic.
