New toys (Nope, not guns)

[SA1911a1]

About 1963, my girlfriend, later to become my wife, and I dug up a red cedar tree to use as a Christmas tree. After Christmas we put it in the ground where it has done very well over the years. It ended up growing three sections of about 20" and about 50 feet tall. Last winter, one of the three sections gave up the ghost, fell and entangled itself in a pecan tree in such a manner that it was dangerous to extract without damaging the pecan tree or my old ass. Last week, my son and I finally tackled it. We took our time and slowly got it on the ground. My fist notion was to pile it up and burn it and be done with it. I am glad I didn't. Later last week I wrestled the trunk onto my trailer and took it to a local guy that has a bandsaw mill. I had him slice it in 1" pieces and ended up with about 140 board feet of some nice lumber, for the grand price of $40.00.

Now I have to figure out what I am going to do with my bonanza of cedar. For kicks and giggles this morning, I cut off a piece to play with and made a small cutting board. The finish is olive oil, and it is put together with Elmer's glue and dowels so that it is non-toxic. The wood is soft enough to not ruin a good knife and the heart of the cedar is very resistant to water damage. As the finish bleaches with washing, you can just hit it with another dose of olive oil, and never leave the kitchen.

The knife holder serves another purpose. When you are done cutting, you can stand it on end to take up less counter space.

[ffuries]

Damn the grain on the wood is awesome looking.

[SA1911a1]

Damn the grain on the wood is awesome looking.

The piece leaning against the wall is being considered for a Mosin mount. It has too much sap wood to be of much functional use.
I would sure like to take credit for the beauty, but I am afraid I had nothing to do with it.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Cool, keep this up and you will get a visit from the Amish mafia for cutting in to their woodworking action.

[Darryl]

That is some nice grain.

[Ironnewt]

It's a shame about the tree, but I'm glad bit did not end up as firewood.

[Longcolt44]

Dumb question #45, Is the red cedar aromatic in any way?

[steelbuttplate]

Dumb question #45, Is the red cedar aromatic in any way?

In every way, its more aromatic than western cedar. Thats what cedar chests are made of and Steve probably has enough material to make one

[ffuries]

Dumb question #45, Is the red cedar aromatic in any way?

We have a cedar chest I bought my wife close to 22 years ago. When you open it today, it still smells like a hamster cage, amazing how long the aroma of cedar can last and how strong it is.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I have a cigar humidor that is cedar lined, and still smells of it, 90+ years after it was made. I use it for holding this and that on my table, no cigars in that one so the smell is noticeable. I have seen closets lined with it that have the smell also many decades after being built.

[SA1911a1]

I have a cigar humidor that is cedar lined, and still smells of it, 90+ years after it was made. I use it for holding this and that on my table, no cigars in that one so the smell is noticeable. I have seen closets lined with it that have the smell also many decades after being built.

After working with the cedar a little bit, my shop smells wonderful, as do my shoes. It smells like Christmas. Cedar chests a hundred years old will still smell nice. The heart wood is resistant to water damage and very resistant to insects as well. I have the equivalent of about 4 and a half sheets of plywood of 1" thick material, so it will make many chests. I have some months to decide what use to put it to. I want it dry so that any warpage or cupping will become evident before it is cut to fit. I got it stacked in the former hen-house yesterday where it will sit until spring with the exception of some small projects like the cutting board.