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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 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 Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Libocedrus decurrens Trade Name Incense cedar Family Name Cupressaceae Common Names Bastard cedar, California post cedar, Californian cedar, Californian incense cedar, Incense cedar, Pecky cedar, Pencil cedar, Post cedar, Red cedar, White cedar Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Boxes and crates, Building materials, Chests, Foundation posts, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Novelties, Paneling, Pencil, Piling, Posts, Railroad ties, Shingles, Stakes, Toys, Trimming, Wainscotting, Woodenware Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Western U.S., from central Oregon to southern California, mainly in Sierra Nevada, but also Siskyou, Klamath, Warner, Cascade and Coast ranges. Many disjunct populations scattered through Oregon, California and Nevada, to the Sierra de San Pedro Martir in Baja California. Also in northern Baja Peninsula of Mexico. Incence cedar is often found in mixed coniferous forests and seldom in pure stands. It prefers mountain soils. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Black Red Red Reddish brown Pale brown Brown Dark brown The heartwood is described as reddish brown to dull brown, and may occasionally have a lavender tinge Sapwood Color White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood The narrow sapwood is almost white in color Grain Figure Growth rings (figure) Straight Even Weak (figure) Clear growth rings (figure) Straight Weak figure The grain is described as straight and even Texture Fine Fine Medium Natural Durability Perishable Resistant to marine borers Non-durable Moderately durable Resistant to termites Very durable Durable Suited for exterior applications Resistant to decay A fungus, Fomes geotropus, causes a defect in the wood which is characterized by finger-shaped pockets which extend along the grain and usually contain a mass of decayed wood. Incense cedar has high tolerance to the adverse effects of the weather Odor The wood has a peculiar pungent odor and a spicy, sharp taste Silica Content Siliceous High Kiln Schedules 11- B5 (4/4); T10- B4 (8/4) US Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight collapse and honeycomb Surface-Checks in thicker stock (light Incense cedar) are common. Water pockets and collapse (heavy Incense cedar) resulting from wetwood and excessive drying temperatures may also develop Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is unknown Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 40-50 m Product Sources Supplies of Incence cedar are adequate. The trees are usually harvested with other species since they are seldom found in dense stands. Comments Light Shock resistance = low Soft Stiffness = low Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Excellent (95+ pieces out of 100 will yield excellent results) Cutting Resistance Cutting resistance is rather low, and the wood is easy to cut in all directions Gluing Excellent gluing properties Mortising Responds very well to mortising operations Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Stable Very stable after seasoning Nailing Pre-boring recommended Good resistance to splitting while nailing Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Excellent planing qualities Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Good routing qualities Sanding Incense cedar has excellent machining properties Screwing Good screw holding properties Excellent screwing properties Turning Very good Painting Good results Excellent results Polishing Good results Staining Stains very well Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5758 8131 psi Crushing Strength 363 578 psi Density 26 lbs/ft3 Hardness 397 lbs Impact Strength 17 16 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3346 5547 psi Shearing Strength 890 psi Stiffness 939 1131 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 5 6 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.31 0.33 Weight 25 21 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 404 571 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 25 40 kg/cm2 Density 416 kg/m3 Hardness 180 kg Impact Strength 43 40 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 235 390 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 66 79 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.35 0.42 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.31 0.33 Weight 400 336 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO 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 McDonald, P.M.,1973,American Woods Incense Cedar,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-226 Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 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 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. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72. Forest Products Laboratory, 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 Western Wood Products Association, Yeon Building, 522 SW Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon.