Wood Type
Softwood
The Tree
The largest of the so-called cedars, it grows to a height of 45m to 75m with a diameter of 1m to 2.5m.
The Timber
The sapwood is narrow and white in colour, and the heartwood is reddish-brown. When freshly felled, the heartwood often displays a marked variation in colour; that from the centre of the log may be a dark chocolate-brown changing to salmon pink nearer the sapwood, or the wood may be variegated with alternate dark and light zones. The wood is non-resinous, straight-grained, somewhat coarse- textured and about 390 kg/m³ when dried.
Drying
Thin sizes dry readily with little degrade, but the timber generally tends to hold its moisture at the centre and care is needed with thick stock to avoid internal honey-combing and collapse. The timber holds its position well after drying with practically no tendency to warp and check. while movement due to shrinking and swelling in changing atmospheres is small.
Working Qualities
Good – The timber works easily with both hand and machine tools, but its relatively brittle nature, which can cause splintering during some operations, and its soft character usually means that care is needed in order to obtain the best results during mortising, planing and moulding. A good finish can be obtained, but cutters must be kept sharpened.
Strength
Its light weight and soft timber contributes to low strength properties.
Treatability
Extremely difficult, Difficult (sapwood)
Moisture Movement
Small
Density
390kg/m3
Texture
Coarse
Use(s)
Joinery – Exterior, Cladding, Decking
Colour(s)
Reddish brown (Ages to silver grey if left unprotected)
Sample
