Identify wood.

I am having trouble driving picassa since it updated, when I click on the url I get the picture, I will see what I can do.

Try this.

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Eastern red cedar...

On 6/30/2013 7:33 AM, dpb wrote: ...

It's the wood of cedar chest and closet linings, etc., etc., etc., ...

That gets my vote, too. Once able to view the picture the very first thing that popped in my mind was the novelty boxes, mirrors, you name it that you see in vacation areas (well, here in the Midwest anyways)

Typically little jewelry boxes with a coat of varnish and stamped on it "Souvenir of the Wisconsin Dells" etc.

Looks a lot prettier as a pen

On 6/30/2013 9:03 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote: ...

That sorta' figures, 'cuz it is... :)

It has a strong smell but not what I remember of cedar.

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How long since it's been cut? It surely looks like cedar in color, grain and what can be seen of bark.

Another poster mentioned juniper which is possible, I suppose. Where did it come from?

I am in Australia, bought a second hand wood heater and the wood came with it and I wish I had not burnt as much before I sawed a bit diagonally, it probably was grown in a domestic garden.

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Ooooh...that means could be most anything--I think all of us responding so far have been USA and thinking of native species here.

It does definitely look like red cedar appearance-wise and I suppose they could have been imported as ornamentals but they're certainly not considered high on the list for it in the US except some areas where it's hard to get much of anything to grow -- like where I am in the semi-arid western High Plains.

Best guess then might be to take a piece to a local horticultural shop and see if they can identify it.

I don't think I've ever seen eastern red cedar intentionally used for firewood but I do recall seeing such trees burn. A fire ripped through forests and fields near my childhood home and I recall how the cedars crackled as they exploded in a ball of flames. It was a memorable experience!

RE pens, I've seen pens turned from this wood and they looked nice. However, the wood is so soft that after a bit of use they looked beat up. One fellow kind of solved that problem by finishing them with a thin variety of CA glue which soaked in and basically plasticized the wood. I imagine that thinned lacquer would do the same thing given enough coats.

John

I would think it would burn fast and pop. Lots of oil and scent.

Either cedar or juniper. Might help saying where you are located and if the tree was local...

Mart> >>> >>> ...

Juniper, cedar, and other shrubs/trees of that family all have a similar red heartwood and white sapwood - and there are some pretty odd trees in AU that may look like that - beware though, my experience is that almost anything native to Australia is poisonous - beware of the dust until you know what it is (the bark looks like juniper to me)

I use superglue (cyanoacrylate or CA.for short) as a lot of pen makers do, it is being increasingly used on small bowls pepper grinders etc.

Very common proocess in pen-making - and as for using it for firewood, there is NO better kindling than just about any variety of "cedar"

Even a good urethane varnish can firm up cedar (and mahogany) quite well - water born better than solvent.