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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 Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Chamaecyparis nootkatensis Trade Name Alaska cedar Family Name Cupressaceae Synonyms Cupressus nootkatensis Common Names Alaska cedar, Alaska cypress, Alaska ground cypress, Alaska yellow cedar, Canoe cedar, FALSE cypress, Nootka cypress, Nootka false cypress, Nootka Sound cypress, Pacific coast cypress, Sitka cypress, White cedar, Yellow cedar, Yellow cypress Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Barge fenders, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Caskets, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Greenhouses, Harbor work, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Naval architecture, Oars, Office furniture, Paddles, Paneling, Piling, Plywood corestock, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Toys, Utility furniture, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Widespread Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk) Likely rare at the periphery of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy Apparently secure globally Abundant Distribution Overview Alaska-cedar is found in the Pacific Coast mountain ranges from south-central Alaska to southwestern Oregon with isolated groves in the Siskiyou Moutains of northern California. The eastern edge of Alaska-cedar's range is defined by two disjunct populations: one in the Selkirk Mountains of southeastern British Columbia and one in the Aldrich Mountains of central Oregon. Heartwood Color Brown White Yellow Red Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Red Pale brown The freshly cut heartwood can be described as bright, clear yellow or pale yellow, and darkens upon exposure Sapwood Color Red Yellow White White to yellow Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Even Texture Medium Coarse Fine Fine to medium Fine Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Very suitable for exterior applications Very high natural resistance Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Odor The freshly cut wood has a characteristic odor which has been described as similar to that of raw potatoes. It also has a faint, bitter and somewhat spicy taste. Resin Content Contains resin Light-Induced Color Change Darker Corrosive Properties Non-corrosive Kiln Schedules UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 Schedule J (4/4) - United Kingdom. 12 - A3 (4/4); T11 - A2 (8/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Slight surface checking There may be some resin secretion upon kiln drying, and thicker stock may develop surface checking Ease of Drying Rapidly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is unknown Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Forest grown Alaska cedar trees are reported to produce knot-free saw logs with lengths of about 30 feet (15 m) Product Sources Alaska cedar is in little demand in the U.S. It is exported in the log form to Japan, at a price of $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 per thousand board feet. Many wood dealers located on the U.S. west-coast are reported to stock Alaska cedar. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Easy Excellent (95+ pieces out of 100 will yield excellent results) Carving Good carving qualities Easy to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Very good properties Moderate gluing properties Mortising Finishes well Easy to mortise Good mortising properties Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Excellent moulding properties Movement in Service Stable Low shrinkage and large amounts of extractives contribute to high dimensional stability Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Holds nails well Easy to nail Good nailing qualities Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish The planing finish is excellent Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood responds poorly to preservative treatment Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Routing yields good results Routing is easy Screwing Easy to screw Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Excellent screwing properties Turning Good results Easy to turn Very good Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor The wood tends to rupture and buckle severely Painting Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Finish is generally good Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory Well defined Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Work to Maximum Load = very low Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Weight = medium Toughness (total work) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hard Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6292 10379 psi Crushing Strength 343 608 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 452 lbs Impact Strength 26 29 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3264 6057 psi Shearing Strength 1015 psi Stiffness 1113 1348 1000 psi Toughness 167 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 7 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.38 0.4 Weight 29 28 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 442 729 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 24 42 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 205 kg Impact Strength 65 73 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 229 425 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 71 kg/cm2 Stiffness 78 94 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 192 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.56 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.38 0.4 Weight 464 448 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. 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Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 111-112. Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research Harris, A.S.,1971,American Woods - Alaska Cedar,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-224 Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Mullins, E.J. and McKnight, T.S.,1981,Canadian Woods Their Properties and Uses,University of Toronto Press 3rd Edition Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Stone, H.,1924,The Timbers of Commerce and their Identification,William Rider & Sons Ltd. London Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14 Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Thomas, A.V.,1964,Timbers Used in the Boat Building Industry A Survey,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,Laboratory Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Western Wood Products Association. 19__. Softwoods of the Western USA. Published and Distributed by the Western Wood Products Association, Yeon Building, 522 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85