[Woodcarver] Red Cedar

[George Farrell]

> ...........I carve quite a bit of Red Cedar.  I adjust my carving to 
> work with the sap and heartwood by looking at the end of the log. With 
> Red cedar checking is low. It is very brittle and I find it best to 
> power carve.  ....
> Chris Howard

I got quite a lot of red cedar from hurricane Isobel (Sept 03).  The 
tree that I got had to have been about
4 feet in diameter and the core had been attacked by termites.  The 
shell was about 12 inches thick.  I cut
the blocks into squared heartwood blocks up to 6X6 about 2 feet long.  
They have been curing for a year now
and show no signs of checking.  I kept a little sapwood (about 3 inches 
thick) it also shows no signs of
checking.
I carve mostly with a knife and agree with Chris Howard in that it IS 
brittle and a little harder than
basswood.  But a sharp knife and keeping the amount of wood reasonably 
small on any one cut will give
good results.

Happiness is a tall boat and breeze to fill her sails
Have a good day
George