Soft wood or Hard wood

[bigred7469]

Is cedar a soft wood or hard?

[Stravides]

it is a Softwood

For futher reference   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_woods

[scrollgirl]

It is soft!    And I find it is very brittle and when I scroll it it tends to break.  I don't think it is dense enough for detailed scrolling, although I do use it for some things that don't have a lot of detail.  Others tell me they have better luck with it, but I have a hard time with it for scrolling.

Sheila

[Al W]

Okay, will go along with the soft, but I have scrolled a couple of intricate items with Cedar.  I made a Welcome to our Cabin sign and used a 2/0 spiral.  No problems at all.  Took some time, but then I have some of that some days.

[scrollgirl]

It must be me, Al, or the type of cedar that I have access to.  I have tried it a couple of times and the pieces literally just fell apart.  The stuff I get must be extra dry and porous.  Like I said - I hear from others that they are quite successful with it.  I love the smell of course and it really looks beautiful.  I am glad you do well with it.

Sheila

[bigred7469]

Thanks so much all.  I too am having trouble with it.  If I scroll simple stuff good to go but if its fine detail it just falls apart.  Then again all I'm buying it the non-treated fence boards at Lowes bet if I went to a wood workers shop it would be way better.

[Jim Finn]

     Fence boards are made of western cedar.  Try eastern cedar, the aromatic kind.  It is a bit harder.  I work with a lot of red cedar, I make boxes with it and inlay maple images into the lids.  I have tried to carve it and find that it splinters too much so I applied a coupla' coats of lacquer to it and it helps.  Maybe some type of finish on your wood before cutting would help. 

[smitty0312]

It is soft. I made this last fall, it can be fretwork IF YOU ARE CAREFULL!I had a couple pieces break on me, but not noticeable. I probably won't try a fret piece again with alot of intricate cuts with cedar. It is very pretty wood though.

[geneVG]

I have made a lot of clocks out of Cedar and never had a problem with it.  But the wester Cedar is very stringy.  That I would not use again for something small.  I've made a lot of Steve's little train clocks out of the red Cedar, anf it cuts great.

gene

[Al W]

This is the cutting I was talking about - not extremely intricate, but still some fine areas.  Workable, just take your time. 

[ChuckD]

When some one needs a sign or even a final marker for their furry friends I use WRC.  I never have a problems with it but I don't use thin layers.  Usually 3/4 inch or one inch thick.  Good Luck