Cedar lumber

[Bruce]

I thought we all needed a break from all the repair/alignment posts that have been dominating this board, not to imply that those posts aren't important (they are). Anyway, I am going to build an outdoor patio table with 2-by cedar stock. I picked up the lumber last weekend at the lumber yard. They seem to be nice straight boards and are dimensioned normally. They are 2x6's and measure 1 1/2 x 5 1/2. I moved them into my basement shop for a couple of days before doing any cutting. When I made my first crosscuts, the boards seemed pretty damp to me and the fresh cut ends even looked damp. I haven't used cedar a lot, so I was wondering if this is just how it is with cedar or could these have been surfaced before drying completely? BTW, my shop smells GREAT!

[a1gutterman]

batg4,

I have cut a considerable amount of cedar 2X2, 2x4, and 2x6. I have never had wet wood, unless it was outside in the rain first, and then it was only surface wetness. I do not know if that is the norm in all parts of the country though. Cedar is plentiful here in the PNW.

[charlese]

batg4 - When in Montana, worked with Western red cedar boards and dimension stock. I agree with Tim! Your cedar either got wet in the lumber yard - in transport or was freshly cut and not dried. What part of the country are you in?

[Nick]

At the Academy, one of the first things I teach in dealing with new lumber is the importance of "shop drying." No matter where your new lumber was stored before you bought -- whether it was outside in the elements or in a climate-controlled building -- it needs to be acclimated to your shop before your work it. The following is from my book, "Wood and Woodworking Materials":

"As it comes to you straight from the yard or store, lumber is not ready to use. Remember, the relative himudity of your shop is almost certainly different from that of the lumberyard. When you bring wood home, it will be in motion, either expanding or contracting. Give it two or three weeks to shop dry, letting it stabilize in its new environment. This is extremely important! If you use it right away, the joints you cut today may not fit tomorrow."

You should also remember that construction-grade lumber is not dried to the same moisture content as cabinet-grade lumber. If you purchased Western Red Cedar at a lumberyard, it was almost assuredly prepared as construction lumber. The commercial preparation of cabinet-grade lumber requires a long and often complex "drying schedule" in the kiln to get the moisture content down below 10% and give the wood sufficient time for internal stresses to equalize and stabilize as it shrinks. The construction industry doesn't have the time or the need for these niceties. Consequently, construction lumber doesn't spend as long in the kiln and its initial moisture content will be significantly higher -- up to 18% for some species straight out of the kiln; much more for chemically-treated "outdoor lumber."

However, as construction lumber sits in the yard it continues to air dry. By the time you buy it, the moisture content may be significantly reduced from what it was when it was first pulled from the kiln. Eventually, it will reach an equilibrium with the relative humidy in its new environment -- about 1% moisture content for every 5% of relative humidity. For example, here in Ohio the average relatively humidity hovers around 40%. So the moisture content of the wood I use tends to be in the neighborhood of 8%. The odd thing is that if you let any piece of wood properly shop dry, whether it be cabinet-grade or construction-grade or firewood-grade, it will all reach the same moisture content as it acclimates to your shop.

My guess is that you got some construction-grade cedar right off the rail car and only a few weeks out of the kiln. If you were building something that required some precision joinery, I'd caution you to let it sit for a good long time stacked flat with spacers or "stickers" between the boards to allow the air to circulate. However, since this is a picnic table, the lumber's moisture content shouldn't be an issue. The design of a standard picnic table allows the wood to "breath" and reach an equilibrium with its outdoor environment as the weather (and the relative humiidty) changes. You may notice that the table will become considerably lighter with time as the excess moisture evaporates, but the fact that you built it from wet or "green" wood shouldn't cause problems. However, to prevent rust I would advise that you carefully wax the bed of your joiner, planer, and any other iron or steel surface that came in contact with the moisture-soaked sawdust .

With all good wishes,

[Bruce]

Thanks for all the replies. Nick, as this patio table is more a furniture project than a plain old picnic table, I think I better let the wood season a bit before using it. It is a round table with slats for the top with 1/8 inch spacing between slats, much like a deck. I'm afraid the spacing would open up quite a bit as it dries if I use the wood as is. BTW, charlese asked where I live. I'm in central Missouri, the humidity capital of the world.

[nuhobby]

Hi,

Someone in the subdivision put a number of 3-ft Sawzalled deck-lumber pieces in their trash pile. Needless to say, the majority is now in my basement. These are 2x6 boards, cedar, no more than 3 feet long. Ideal for transporting in my car trunk, but now I need to think of uses for it? Any ideas? (I'm usually building stuff more on the fine arts side rather than heavy furniture)...

Chris

[a1gutterman]

How 'bout a cedar chest? You could resaw the 2x6 with your band saw to increase the amount of boards that you have. A small chest would make someone a nice Christmas gift!

[Bruce]

If you're into nature or even if your not, you could build a bird house and feeder.

[tchwrtr55]

Flower pots and planters would work. I cabbaged on to several cedar logs out of a road ditch this past spring. They went through a local saw mill. I'm hoping to have enough good wood for a blanket chest. The not so neat boards will be flower pots and planter. I hope. Someday. Now I have a wife and daughter arguing over ownership of the not even started blanket chest. Fun times.
Mark

[dusty]

Don't plan on building just one. It sounds like you need to start at least two,

If you have sisters, sisters-in-laws or nieces that number mat grow. I let it be known that I was planning one for my grand daugther. There is currently six of them on the "want-list".

I'm thinking seriously about doing one (a prototype like Norm does) and then cutting another six sets of lumber all at once. I can't glue them all up at the same time though unless Norm will lend me some space and clamps.