Western Red, Eastern White & Alaskan Yellow
WESTERN RED CEDAR:
Description: Typically the most availiable species of cedar, it is cost effective and similar in longevity to Eastern White. It is valued for its distinct appearance, aroma, and its high natural resistance to decay. It is also widely used throughout Europe and America for making beehives. It is cultivated as an ornamental tree, to a limited extent in forestry plantations and for screens and hedges. It is also used to line closets and chests, for its pungent aromatic oils are believed to discourage moth and carpet beetle larvae, which can damage cloth by eating wool and similar fibres. This is more effective in a properly constructed red cedar chest (sometimes made entirely of redcedar), since the oils are confined by shellac and leather seals. A well-sealed redcedar chest will retain its pungent odour for many decades, sometimes for over a century. Its light weight, strength and dark warm sound make it a popular choice for guitar soundboards. Uses: Extensively used for outdoor construction in the form of shingles, shakes, siding, posts and decking.
EASTERN WHITE CEDAR:
Description: An evergreen tree with fan-like branches and scaly leaves. Unlike the closely related species, Western Red Cedar, it is only a small tree. Growing to a height of 10–20 metres (33–66 ft) tall with a 0.4 metres (1.3 ft) trunk diameter, exceptionally to 30 metres (98 ft) tall and 1.6 metres (5.2 ft) diameter. Northern whitecedars found to be growing on cliff faces in southern Ontario are the oldest trees in Eastern North America and all of Canada, growing to ages in excess of 1653 years old. Uses: White cedar is commercially used for rustic fencing and posts, lumber, poles, shingles and in the construction of log cabins.
ALASKAN YELLOW CEDAR:
Description: The various physical properties of the wood make it an attractive material for both general construction and boat building. Due to its slow growth it is hard and, like other cypress woods it is durable; it therefore offers good dimensional stability, and is resistant to weather, insects, and contact with soil. It works easily with hand or machine tools; it turns and carves quite well. It can be fastened with glues, screws, and nails. It's texture, uniform color, and straight grain will take a fine finish. It resists splintering and wears smoothly over time. When fresh cut it has a somewhat unpleasant bitter scent, but when seasoned it has barely any discernible scent, hence its traditional use in face masks. Uses: Northern white cedar is commercially used for rustic fencing and posts, lumber, poles, shingles and in the construction of log cabins, White cedar is the preferred wood for the structural elements, such as ribs and planking, of birchbark canoes and the planking of wooden canoes.
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