Katrina Rosales
Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a coniferous tree that grows in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, specifically in the mountains of Oregon, Northern California, Nevada, and even as far south as Baja Mexico. The wood from these trees is valued for its durability, pleasant aroma, and ease of cutting, and it is commonly used in a variety of applications, including pencils, fence posts, and construction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Calocedrus decurrens |
| Common locations | Oregon, Northern California, Nevada, Baja Mexico, and the Sierras |
| Colour | Creamy white sapwood, light brown to light reddish brown heartwood |
| Texture | Straight grain |
| Weight | Lightweight |
| Workability | Easy to work with hand and machine tools, planes or sands to a smooth surface |
| Paint | Holds paint well |
| Glue | Glues well |
| Nails | Nails well, but requires some care to prevent splitting |
| Strength | Low relative strength but suitable for many construction uses |
| Insulation | Good insulator due to low thermal conductivity |
| Decay resistance | Resistant to decay |
| Odor | Spicy |
| Allergies/Toxicity | Can cause skin irritation and adverse reactions in people with asthma |
| Uses | Pencils, Venetian blinds, fence posts, exterior siding, outdoor furniture, trellises, interior panelling, grape stakes, rafters, caskets, moth-proof closet linings, chests, novelty items, crafts |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense cedar is primarily native to the western slopes of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges in North America
- The tree is commonly used to make pencils due to its softness and ease of cutting without splintering
- The aromatic wood is water-resistant and has been used to make window sashes, exterior siding, and fencing
- Incense cedar is an ornamental and timber evergreen conifer of the cypress family
- The wood is easy to work with using both hand and machine tools and holds paint, stains, glues, and finishes well
Incense cedar is primarily native to the western slopes of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges in North America
Incense cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a beautiful and uncommon conifer native to western North America. Specifically, it grows in the mountains of Oregon, Northern California, Nevada, and even as far south as Baja California in Mexico. The tree is particularly prevalent on the western slopes of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges.
The incense cedar is a softwood tree with a distinctive spicy odour. It is renowned for its use in making pencils due to its softness, ease of sharpening, and resistance to splintering. The wood is also used for fence posts, thanks to its durability and good weathering characteristics. It is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, holds paint well, and glues and nails effectively.
The wood of the incense cedar is lightweight, with a creamy white sapwood and a light brown to reddish-brown heartwood. The heartwood is aromatic and resistant to decay, making it ideal for a variety of construction and crafting purposes. Its unusual straight grain makes it a unique and attractive choice for woodworking projects.
The bark of older incense cedars is thick, with a pinkish-orange hue and a spongy texture. The evergreen foliage of the tree is arranged in flattened sprays, creating a distinctive and charming appearance. The trees themselves often feature a funky, wavy branching pattern when viewed from underneath, adding to their aesthetic appeal.
Overall, the incense cedar is a versatile and valuable tree native to the western regions of North America, offering a range of uses and aesthetic pleasures for gardeners, woodworkers, and crafters alike.
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The tree is commonly used to make pencils due to its softness and ease of cutting without splintering
The incense cedar tree is native to the forests of northern California and southern Oregon. It is a drought-tolerant species that grows in a variety of soils and elevations, typically ranging from 2,000 to 6,900 feet. While it is not as commercially desirable as other tree species, incense cedar has become increasingly important on private timberlands due to its aggressive natural regeneration capabilities. In fact, there are more incense cedar trees in California's forests today than there were in the past 50-70 years ago.
Additionally, the straight grain of the incense cedar allows for a beautiful finish on the pencil. The wood can be easily painted without much variability in texture. When sharpening an incense cedar pencil, the grain also allows the point to be formed without chipping or breaking.
Incense cedar is also favoured for its economic advantages. While historically, Eastern Redcedar was used for pencils, limited supplies and higher prices have caused it to be displaced by incense cedar. California incense-cedar was less expensive due to the increasing proportions of harvest from second-cut timber. However, it is important to note that incense cedar pencil slats initially faced resistance due to their lighter colour, which differed from the traditional reddish-brown of Eastern Redcedar.
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The aromatic wood is water-resistant and has been used to make window sashes, exterior siding, and fencing
Incense cedar is a versatile wood with a range of applications due to its durability and pleasant aroma. While it is commonly used for pencils, its water-resistant properties make it ideal for exterior uses such as window sashes, siding, and fencing.
The wood is easy to work with and can be cut and shaped without splintering, making it a good choice for exterior siding and window sashes. It holds paint well and is durable, so it can withstand exposure to the elements. Its natural resistance to decay and good weathering characteristics also make it suitable for fence posts.
Incense cedar is available from retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe's, although it is important to note that some people have reported asthmatic reactions and skin irritation when working with the wood. It is always advisable to take appropriate precautions when working with any type of wood, and to ensure proper ventilation.
The use of incense cedar for exterior applications can enhance the aesthetic appeal of a building, providing a natural and aromatic finish. Its durability and resistance to decay help ensure the longevity of the installation, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Overall, the water-resistant and aromatic properties of incense cedar make it a suitable choice for a variety of exterior applications, contributing to its popularity in construction and home improvement projects.
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Incense cedar is an ornamental and timber evergreen conifer of the cypress family
Incense cedar, or *Calocedrus decurrens*, is an ornamental and timber evergreen conifer of the cypress family. It is native to the mountains of Oregon, Northern California, Nevada, and even as far south as Baja California in Mexico. The tree has beautiful bark, foliage, and branching, with a funky, wavy branching pattern when viewed from underneath. The aromatic wood is water-resistant and has been used in window sashes, exterior siding, trellises, fencing, paneling, Venetian blinds, chests, decking, and shoe trees.
The wood is perhaps most famously used for making pencils due to its softness, ease of cutting, and resistance to splintering. The wood also has a spicy odor and holds paint very well, making it suitable for a variety of construction and craft uses.
The bark on very old incense cedars is thick, pinkish-orange, and somewhat spongy. The wood has a creamy white sapwood and a light brown to light reddish-brown heartwood, which creates an attractive contrast when both appear on the same boards. Incense cedar lumber is light and tends to have an unusually straight grain, making it easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It sands and planes to a smooth surface and glues and nails well, although some care must be taken with nails to prevent splitting.
Incense cedar is a softwood with low relative strength but is still strong enough for many construction uses. Its low thermal conductivity also makes it a good insulator.
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The wood is easy to work with using both hand and machine tools and holds paint, stains, glues, and finishes well
Incense cedar, native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, is a softwood tree that is commonly used in construction. It is easy to work with using both hand and machine tools and holds paint, stains, glues, and finishes well. This makes it a popular choice for a variety of applications, from building log cabins to crafting pencils.
The wood's ease of workability is attributed to its soft and splinter-resistant nature. When cut, incense cedar does not produce splinters, making it ideal for creating smooth surfaces. This characteristic, combined with its stability and durability, has led to its widespread use in construction, particularly for log cabins and other wood structures.
Incense cedar is also known for its dimensional stability, which refers to its minimal contraction and expansion under varying temperature and humidity conditions. This stability results in less settling of log walls over time, reducing the need for additional materials such as settling jacks and slip joints. The cellular structure of incense cedar wood, with its small air pockets, further enhances its insulation abilities, making it a top choice for constructing energy-efficient homes.
Additionally, incense cedar is valued for its aesthetic appeal. Its warm red and white colour, combined with its natural grain, adds to the rustic charm of log cabins and other wooden structures. Its ability to hold paint, stains, and finishes well also contributes to its versatility in achieving various decorative effects.
The workability of incense cedar extends beyond construction. It is a favoured material for wood pencils due to its softness and ease of sharpening without splintering. The wood's pleasant spicy odour, often associated with pencils, further enhances its popularity for this application. Overall, the versatility and ease of working with incense cedar make it a preferred choice for both hand and machine tool applications.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense cedar grows in the Pacific Northwest, in the mountains of Oregon, Northern California, Nevada, and even as far south as Baja California in Mexico.
Incense cedar can be purchased from Home Depot and Lowe's.
Incense cedar is commonly used for pencils, fence posts, exterior siding, outdoor furniture, and interior panelling. It is also used for Christmas decorations and incense due to its unique aroma.
Incense cedar has a funky, wavy branching pattern when viewed from underneath. The bark on very old incense cedars is thick, pinkish-orange, and somewhat spongy. The sapwood is creamy white, while the heartwood is light brown to light reddish-brown.
Incense cedar is a softwood with a low relative strength, but it is still strong enough for many construction uses. It has excellent dimensional stability, low thermal conductivity, and good resistance to decay. It works well with hand and machine tools and holds paint, glue, and nails well. However, some care must be taken with nails to prevent splitting.
