Other names: Eastern Red Cedar, Pencil Cedar
Latin names: Juniperus virginiana, Juniperus silicicola
Family: Cupressaceae
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| Virginian Pencil Cedar |
Virginian Pencil Cedar has a heartwood which is of uniform reddish-brown color with an aromatic distinct cedar scent and thin dark line of latewood marks at the boundary of each growth ring. The wood itself is soft, very straight grained, with a fine, even texture. Weight of cedar wood is around 530 kg/m3 (33 lb/ft3).
Pencil Cedar has medium bending and crushing strength and is classified as poor steam bending wood. The wood should be allowed to dry slowly to avoid fine surface checking and end splitting. Cedar works readily with hand and machine tools and has little blunting effect on cutting edges. Selected straight grained material works very easily, but the more decorative stock of knotty cedar has disturbed grain around the knots which tends to tear in planing or moulding, therefore the cutters must be kept very sharp to obtain a good finish. Wood likely splits when nailed, but glues, stains and produces a fine finish with the usual treatments.
Virginian Pencil Cedar wood is durable and resists insect attack. The fragrant, aromatic wood is used for cigar boxes, linen and blanket chests, ship building, coffins, and interior trim. Selected logs are sliced for highly decorative panelling and furniture veneers.
