Western Red Cedar

Specs

Common Names
Western Red Cedar
Scientific Name
Thuja plicata
Origin
Pacific Northwest US and Canada
Appearance
Heartwood reddish to pinkish brown, often with random streaks and bands of darker red/brown areas. Narrow sapwood is pale yellowish white, and isn’t always sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Straight grain with a coarse texture and moderate natural luster.
Avg. Dried Weight
23 lbs/ft3 (370 kg/m3)
Janka Hardness
350 lbf
Modulus of Rupture
7,500 lbf/in2 (51.7 MPa)
Elastic Modulus
1,110,000 lbf/in2 (7.66 GPa)
Crushing Strength
4,560 lbf/in2 (31.4 MPa)
Shrinkage
Radial: 2.4%, Tangential: 5%
Durability
Durable to very durable against decay; mixed results against insects.
Workability
Easy to work with both hand or machine tools, though it dents and scratches very easily due to its softness, and can sand unevenly due to the difference in density between the earlywood and latewood zones. Glues and finishes well. Iron-based fasteners can stain and discolor the wood, especially in the presence of moisture.

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