Lance Carson
The incense cedar tree, also known as the California incense cedar, is a large tree in the cypress family. It is native to western North America, mainly in California and Oregon. The wood from these trees is used to make pencils. In Oregon, it is most abundant in the southwestern part of the state, while in California, it is found in the inland forests in the central and northern parts of the state. The incense cedar tree is sustainably harvested and regulated, and there are more trees in forests today than there were 50 to 70 years ago.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Incense cedar trees are found in the inland forests of central and northern California, and in southern Oregon. |
| Elevation range | 2,000 to 6,900 feet (610 to 2,100 meters) |
| Soil type | Grows in a variety of soils |
| Forest composition | Makes up about 5% of trees in a stand, but can constitute 20-30% in more concentrated stands. Grows scattered among other species like Douglas-fir, Jeffrey Pine, and ponderosa pine. |
| Sustainability | Strictly regulated and sustainably harvested. |
| Timber economics | California incense cedar was less expensive than Eastern Red Cedar due to the latter's declining tree diameters and increasing costs of harvesting "old growth" timber. |
| Technical properties | Smooth, straight grain that allows for a beautiful finish and easy painting. Exceptional "sharpenability", thermal conductivity, and stability. |
| Historical use | Began as a substitute for Eastern Red Cedar, the previous premier wood for US-produced pencils. |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense cedar is a drought-tolerant species that grows in a variety of soils
- Incense cedar is found in the forests of northern California and southern Oregon
- Incense cedar is a sustainable resource, with more trees in forests today than 50-70 years ago
- Incense cedar replaced Eastern Red Cedar as the preferred wood for pencils
- Incense cedar is used for pencils due to its technical properties, such as its ability to be machined smoothly
Incense cedar is a drought-tolerant species that grows in a variety of soils
California Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is a species of conifer native to western North America, with the bulk of the range in the United States, from central western Oregon through most of California and the extreme west of Nevada, and also a short distance into northwest Mexico in northern Baja California. It is the most widely-known cedar species and is often simply called Incense Cedar.
The incense cedar tree is remarkably drought-tolerant, with a ranking higher than sugar pine, ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, or grand fir when grown in pumice. This tolerance is due to the incense cedar's roots completely occupying the soil mass. The tree can be found scattered among Douglas-fir, Jeffrey Pine, ponderosa pine, and other species that dominate the mixed-conifer forest.
The greatest abundance of incense cedar is found on public timberlands in national forests, although it is also increasingly important on private timberlands due to its natural regeneration abilities. Incense cedar has never become a mono-cultural plantation species as with other commercial western softwoods. In California and Oregon, many nurseries grow incense cedar saplings for reforestation purposes, and research has been carried out on issues such as genetic diversity, adaptability, and insect resistance.
The wood of the incense cedar tree is used to make pencils, and it is the premier wood species for high-quality pencils worldwide. Its unique physical characteristics, such as its smooth, straight grain, make it ideal for machining and sharpening, and it is also sustainable and economically priced.
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Incense cedar is found in the forests of northern California and southern Oregon
The incense cedar tree, or California incense cedar, is a large tree in the cypress family. It is found in the inland forests of central and northern California and in southern Oregon. The tree is also known as the California incense cedar or simply incense cedar. It is a drought-tolerant species that grows in a variety of soils and elevation ranges.
In California, the incense cedar is found in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, while in Oregon, it is most abundant in the southwestern part of the state, particularly in the Oregon Cascades and the southern slope of Mt. Hood. The tree tends to grow in mixed stands of other conifers, often on dry western slopes, and can be found scattered among Douglas-fir, Jeffrey Pine, and ponderosa pine.
The incense cedar tree has been an important resource for pencil manufacturing due to its unique physical characteristics. It has a very smooth machined surface, exceptional sharpenability, and optimal wood utilization. The tree is also known for its decay resistance, making it suitable for use in house siding, decking, and interior panelling.
The use of incense cedar in pencils dates back to the early 1900s when it replaced the Eastern Red Cedar as the wood of choice for pencil making. Today, incense cedar is sustainably grown and harvested, ensuring a consistent and reliable supply for the pencil industry. However, there has been a recent shift towards more eco-friendly and sustainable wood sources, as concerns about the slow growth rate and deforestation associated with incense cedar have arisen.
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Incense cedar is a sustainable resource, with more trees in forests today than 50-70 years ago
Incense cedar, or California incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), is a large tree in the cypress family. It is native to western North America, mainly found in the inland forests of central and northern California, and in southern Oregon. The tree is also known as Libocedrus decurrens in Oregon.
Incense cedar is a drought-tolerant, fire-resistant species that grows in abundance in a variety of soils. It is scattered among other trees, such as Douglas-fir, Jeffrey Pine, and ponderosa pine, and generally averages about 5% of the trees in a stand, though in more concentrated stands it can make up 20-30% of all the trees.
Incense cedar is a sustainable resource that is strictly regulated and sustainably harvested. In fact, there are more incense cedar trees in forests today than there were 50-70 years ago. This is due to several factors, including the tree's aggressive natural regeneration, increasing trends towards selective harvest methods, and the managed reforestation of the species by both governmental agencies and private interests.
The technical properties of incense cedar make it uniquely suited for use in pencils. It has optimal physical characteristics for close-tolerance, precision machining, resulting in a very smooth machined surface and exceptional 'sharpenability'. The wood also has a high thermal conductivity rating, providing dependable and predictable insulating properties and resistance to heat migration, which positively impacts its performance under machining conditions.
The use of incense cedar in pencils can be traced back to the early 1900s when it was used as a substitute for Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), which was previously the premier wood for US-produced pencils. Over time, incense cedar became the premier wood species for high-quality pencils worldwide, known for its smooth finish, resistance to splintering, and pleasant scent.
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Incense cedar replaced Eastern Red Cedar as the preferred wood for pencils
California Incense-cedar, or Calocedrus decurrens, is a large tree in the cypress family that occurs in western North America, mainly in California and Oregon. It has been the preferred wood for pencils since the early 20th century, replacing Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana).
Eastern Red Cedar was the primary wood used for US-produced pencils from the mid-1800s until the early 1900s. However, due to limited supply and increasing prices, it became less economical. As the diameter sizes of Eastern Red Cedar trees declined, the proportion of harvest from second cuts increased, leading to higher costs.
California Incense-cedar, on the other hand, was more abundant and less expensive. The western forests of the United States represented the largest unexploited source of wood, with superior growing conditions for softwoods and larger diameter trees. This resulted in lower timber costs compared to Eastern Red Cedar.
However, the transition to California Incense-cedar was about more than just economics. The technical properties of this wood make it uniquely suited for pencils. It has optimal physical characteristics for close-tolerance, precision machining, resulting in a very smooth machined surface. Pencils made from California Incense-cedar sharpen exceptionally well, without splintering or breaking. Additionally, its thermal conductivity rating is among the best for all softwoods, providing dependable insulating properties and resistance to heat migration, which is beneficial during machining and drying processes.
California Incense-cedar is also a sustainable resource. It is drought-tolerant and can grow in a variety of soils and elevations. It is strictly regulated and sustainably harvested, ensuring a long-term supply for pencil manufacturing.
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Incense cedar is used for pencils due to its technical properties, such as its ability to be machined smoothly
Incense cedar is native to the inland forests of central and northern California, as well as southern Oregon. It is a drought-tolerant species that grows in a variety of soils and elevations. Due to its natural regeneration abilities, it is a sustainable resource for pencils.
Additionally, incense cedar exhibits exceptional 'sharpenability', which means that it can be sharpened without the point breaking or chipping. This is due to the straight grain of the wood, which also allows for a smooth, even groove for the graphite. The thermal conductivity rating of incense cedar is also among the best for softwoods, providing dependable and predictable insulating properties.
The wood is also stable under varying temperature and humidity conditions, resisting warping, checking, or shrinking. This makes it ideal for shipment and use in various regions with different climates. The relative lack of resin canals and pitch pockets in incense cedar also contributes to its smooth finish, allowing for easy painting or staining without bleeding or other issues.
Overall, the unique technical properties of incense cedar, including its ability to be machined smoothly, make it an exceptional choice for pencil manufacturing, resulting in high-quality writing instruments.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense cedar is cut from the forests of northern California and southern Oregon.
Incense cedar is a drought-tolerant species that can grow in a variety of soils. It is also sustainable, and its wood is soft, attractive, rot-resistant, and easy to sharpen.
Incense cedar generally averages about 5% of the trees in a stand, but in more concentrated stands, it can make up 20-30% of all the trees.
