Port orford cedar question

[BlueRider]

I have a client that is interested in a carved head board for a double bed and I am thinking I would like to do it out of port orford cedar. Problem is I don't have any and no one near me sells it. Any one here have any they would be willing to sell? the head board is 20" x 56" wide and I need a full 2" thickness, and it needs to be clear vertical grain. I can glue it up out of narower boards if the color and grain match. It also needs to be dry so I can start carving soon and deliver by the first of the year.

I know it is a tough request but I thought I would ask here before I start searching the comercial mills.

 

[lostfoundlumber]

You may want to try yellow cedar. Amazing for carving, availability is good up here (vancouver island, BC). 20" edge grain with no flaws is available, but rare and expensive. The grain is so subtle and fine that you would generally not notice the laminations / glue lines anyways. The board would be more stable and about 1/4 the price.

 

[teatersroad]

Boatyards, that's premium boat building/repair lumber. If you can find a yard that has it, expect to pay a premium. Crosscut Hardwoods here in PNW may have some, they do show yellow cedar on their website. I'd think finding something dry/seasoned at a mill would be a stretch.

 

[Daninvan]

I notice this post originated over a month ago. Did you find any yet?

Northwest Timber in Oregon carries PO Cedar. It's a bit tricky to find on their website, use their search feature to find it. $$$

Another alternative that's more available / cheaper (relatively!) might be vertical grain Doug fir. I'm not sure how well it carves, but I think you could find it at a decent local lumberyard.

If you go with yellow cedar Sunbury Cedar in BC carries 2x8 clear according to their website.

I have some PO Cedar I have milled locally, but it's not clear vertical grain! PO Cedar is a reasonably common street/yard tree in the Northwest.

 

[lostfoundlumber]

Vertical grain fir has many great qualities, but carving is not one of them. It will tear out and splinter too much. I have plenty of edge grain yellow cedar around, but I'm not sure it would be worth it to send across the border.

 

[820wards]

I have a client that is interested in a carved head board for a double bed and I am thinking I would like to do it out of port orford cedar. Problem is I don't have any and no one near me sells it. Any one here have any they would be willing to sell? the head board is 20" x 56" wide and I need a full 2" thickness, and it needs to be clear vertical grain. I can glue it up out of narower boards if the color and grain match. It also needs to be dry so I can start carving soon and deliver by the first of the year.

I know it is a tough request but I thought I would ask here before I start searching the comercial mills.

BlueRider,

I have a neighbor who and two pieces of Old Growth Doug Fir that are about 3-1/2-4" thick and are about 4'x4' in size. He said I could have them otherwise he is going to cut them up for firewood. Want them?

I noticed another member said that Doug Fir is close. Let me know, call me you have my number.

jerry-

 

[BlueRider]

I did find a source for some really nice port orford cedar. Unfortunately my client choose to have me make it out of monterey cypress. It will look great but it is much harder to carve and really dulls tools in short order.

I am having some monterey cypress (cupresses macrocarpa) milled up local beacase I want just a tiny bit of grain run out and what I have has none. for carving a tiny bit of grain runnout in woods that are a bit prone to splitting really helps limit the splitting.

I had thougt about yellow cedar (cupresses nootka). Since I woud have to pay for shipping on either yellow or PO in the quallity I nned they are both expensive I tried to opt for the one I prefer. The scent of Port orford cedar is hard to beat so that is another reasion I tried to push my client towards it.

Doug fir is definatly not a good carving wood but I have done some rough hewn carved panels for a door and if you mill the wood with a bit grain runnout and then carve up hill it will work.

Jerry- That Doug fir of your neighbors sounds like it would make some nice door panels and I still have a couple more doors to make for my house. I'll swap you something for it next time I see you