Search for

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Chamaecyparis lawsoniana Trade Name Port Orford cedar Family Name Cupressaceae Common Names FALSE cypress, Ginuer pine, Lawson cypress, Lawson false cypress, Lawson's cypress, Oregon cedar, Port Orford cedar, Port Orford white cedar, White cedar Regions of Distribution North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] New Zealand, United States Common Uses Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Factory construction, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Lifeboats, Light construction, Matches, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments: piano, Oars, Piling, Plaques, Plywood: veneer (marine), Porch columns, Posts, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Toys, Vats Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Widespread Rare within its natural habitat Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Likely rare at the periphery of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Apparently secure globally Abundant Distribution Overview Port-Orford-cedar has a very limited distribution, occurring near the Pacific Ocean in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. The northern limit of its distribution is near Coos Bay, Oregon. The species' range extends southward about 220 miles (350 km) to the central portion of the Mad River drainage in Humbolt County, California. Isolated populations occur near Mount Shasta and the Trinity Mountains in northern California. It occurs in greatest abundance within about 40 miles of the coast. Farther inland, its distribution is spotty, and it is mostly limited to sites with abundant soil moisture and/or atmospheric moisture. Port-Orford-cedar is cultivated in Hawaii, New Zealand and Europe. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow White Red Pink Orange Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale red to pink Yellowish tan Pinkish brown Pale - yellow Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Same as heartwood White to yellow Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Even Figure Growth rings (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Even Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Fine Medium to coarse Fair to medium coarse Coarse Luster Low Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Natural Durability Non-durable Durable Perishable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Durable Very durable Resistant to decay Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles This wood is reported to have found uses as storage battery separators because of its resistance to the corrosive properties of acids Odor The freshly cut wood has a pungent, ginger-like odor and a spicy, bitter taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Freshly-Milled Port-Orford cedar can give off an odor that can best be described as pungent and ginger-like. Prolonged inhalation of the smell has been associated with kidney complications in some people. Masks are usually worn as a protection against inhalation and the fine dust produced from sawmilling Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Moderate Dries readily with little degrade Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bark width is 15-20 mm Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bark width is 10-15 mm Tree height is 30-40 m Product Sources The timber is over-harvested and the use of heavy-duty extracting equipment tends to spread a virus which kills the trees. Supplies of Port Orford cedar are very limited, with stumpage prices of $3,000.00 per thousand board feet (1993 figures). It is sold mainly on the Japanese market. Some material culled from prime grade saw logs are available in limited quantities in areas where the tree grows. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Excellent (95+ pieces out of 100 will yield excellent results) Carving Fair to Good Results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Excellent gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Moderately easy to mortise Good mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Moulding ease is moderate Excellent moulding properties Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Holds nails well Easy to nail Good nailing qualities Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable The heartwood is fairly difficult to treat with liquids. Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Moderate difficulty Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to screw Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Excellent screwing properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Very good Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Very poor Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally good Stains very well Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Weight = medium Toughness (total work) = medium