How to Identify Cedar Lumber
Cedar is a soft, very stable wood. For that reason it has historically been used in high humidity areas such as in kitchens, baths and steam saunas. Cedar is a very easy wood to work with: one of the main characteristics of cedar lumber is that it lays flat and stays flat. The most obvious way to identify cedar lumber is to simply smell it; cedar has a distinctive aromatic scent. Cedar lumber comes in different grades and is priced accordingly. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Carefully check the labels on the bins of cedar lumber at the lumber yard. Notice that they are graded using a system based on specific characteristics.
-
2
Examine the lumber marked "cv" (Clear Vertical Grain). This wood has torn grain, caused by the surface wood being cut out as the boards moved through the planer at the sawmill. Watch out for minor warpage in this grade.
-
-
3
Examine the lumber labeled "a" (A & Better Clear). Feel the surface. Check for length-wise cracks, known as checks, typical in this grade of cedar lumber. Look for periodic skips in the lumber, or low spots, and for tight, small knots, about two per board.
-
4
Continue to "c" (C & Better Clear). Notice how these boards are mostly clear, planed cedar boards. This is the wood that is closest to the bark of the tree. The boards have a medium cedar tone, small knots and short splits, which are cracks that run through checks. Small streaks of pitch, the sap from the tree, will be evident in c-grade cedar lumber.
-
5
Examine the lumber marked "d" (D & Better Clear). This grade features periodic skips in the grain, with some pinholes, and one or two knots per board.
-
6
Examine the lumber labeled "tk" (Select Tight Knot) and study the distribution of knots and burls, and slightly chipped or star checked knots. These features add a decorative value to this grade of cedar lumber.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Before shopping for cedar lumber be very clear on what you are going to be using it for. Cedar is expensive--you want to buy the right grade for the job.
