Surprise wood find

[EIEIO]

This "brick" of cedar wood was at the local flee market. They had a pallet piled high with them. They sell for $3.75 and have 100 pieces that are 3" x 7.25" and slightly under 3/16 thick.


Has anyone used these for scrolling? They seem to be aromatic cedar, clear grain, nice dry blanks. A little small, but just the thing for some projects. Any thoughts?

[julief]

I have bought the cedar planks for grilling fish from woot before and find the wood is very soft.  Be careful of too much detail.  Otherwise - cut away.

[dunk]

They are probably cut down cedar fencing material.  I buy about 10 boards every year when they go on sale.  Works great for out door projects.  use a mask dust is toxic...

[Rapid Roger]

I've used some cedar in the recent past but, not for scrolling, mine was a bit thicker........




 

I'm not sure how well it will scroll, especially more detailed cuttings, but, for larger cuts I think it would look very nice for a "WELCOME" sign or maybe the family name type sign.
I say "GO FOR IT!" and report back with how it cut and some pictures of you work. I would be interested seeing it.
The wood is priced right anyway!

Rog   

[dirtrider73068]

You could glue some together to get the thickness or size you needed.

[EIEIO]

You could glue some together to get the thickness or size you needed.

Good idea. I thought about stacking then for some Intarsia - you could add depth in pretty small steps.
Here are a couple of dragonflies cut to the scale of the Bruce Worthington "Dragonfly on a cattail" Intarsia. Both came from one cedar blank. The wingspan is about 3.75". The wings are long-grain and strong but the body is cross-grain and could break.

They cut without any problems with an FD-UR#1 blade. I guess I could stack a body and wings on this outline to give it some dimension. I'll try that and post a photo.

[dunk]

Looking good.  Be watching for the update.

[dirtrider73068]

Yup and kinda like taking strips of wood like 2 inch and turn it into 4 or 8 inch wide board and slideing them together to get widths, would be able to change the color and grain when doing this would get alot of variations or looks.

[rfarmer]

I get some cedar planks from the .99 store they are 5/16 x 5 1/4 x 12 for of course $.99. I've used them for a couple of projects and so far have worked well. I built the bird house Steve put up awhile back with them. They are actually cedar planks used to cook fish on.

[mrsn]

I have used cedar for some projects. It can split very easily when it is thin, so watch the grain.

[Gabby]

I had always heard Cedar is toxic am I wrong?
If I'm right I don't think I would want to cook with it.

Thanks EI the thickness is good but I wouldn't want all the glue up for a plaque, it wouldn't be a work saver.
Gabby

[dirtrider73068]

It can be there was a chart post in here somewhere about wood toxicty's might do a search unless some one knows where or has it handy.

[CaptSpiffy]

You knpw Ray, I would buy some just to try it out.
I'll bet it would be fine for a lot of projects.

[EIEIO]

Here's a finger jointed box made from that cedar to hold a small skinning knife. It cuts easily and joins up well. I suspect that the cedar planks might have come from a cigar box operation -  they look like side wall blanks.

[Gabby]

Is that going to be a presentation box Ray?
That would be cool.
Gabby