
Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)
Family: Cupressaceae
Common names: Cypress, Ginuer pine, Lawson cypress, Lawson false cypress, Lawson's cypress, Oregon cedar, Port Orford cedar, Port Orford white cedar, White cedar
Distributed in: New Zealand, United States (North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe)
Distribution overview: Port-Orford-cedar has a very limited distribution, occurring near the Pacific Ocean in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California.The northern limit of its distribution is near Coos Bay, Oregon.The species' range extends southward about 220 miles (350 km) to the central portion of the Mad River drainage in Humbolt County, California. Isolated populations occur near Mount Shasta and the Trinity Mountains in northern California.It occurs in greatest abundance within about 40 miles of the coast.Farther inland, its distribution is spotty, and it is mostly limited to sites with abundant soil moisture and/or atmospheric moisture.Port-Orford-cedar is cultivated in Hawaii, New Zealand and Europe.
Common uses: Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chests, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Factory construction, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Lifeboats, Light construction, Matches, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments: piano, Oars, Piling, Plaques, Plywood: veneer (marine), Porch columns, Posts, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Toys, Vats
Product sources: The timber is over-harvested and the use of heavy-duty extracting equipment tends to spread a virus which kills the trees.Supplies of Port Orford cedar are very limited, with stumpage prices of $3,000.00 per thousand board feet (1993 figures). It is sold mainly on the Japanese market. Some material culled from prime grade saw logs are available in limited quantities in areas where the tree grows.
Environment profile: Widespread
Tree size: Tree height is 30-40 m
Colors: the heart isYellow to golden-yellow to orange, Yellowish tanand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMedium to coarseand the lusterLustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable
Odor:
The freshly cut wood has a pungent, ginger-like odor and a spicy, bitter taste
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: Dry at a moderate speed
Drying Defects: Distortion, Slight twist/warp
Ease of Drying: Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is buttressed
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: Little
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Carving: Fair to Good Results
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Very Good to Excellent Results
Mortising: Very Good to Excellent
Moulding: Moulding ease is moderate
Movement in Service: Moulding ease is moderate
Nailing: Holds nails well, Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Very Good to Excellent
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Very Good to Excellent Results
Sanding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Steam bending: Very poor
Screwing: Screwing yields good results, Very Good to Excellent Results; Turning: Very good
Painting: Very Good to Excellent; Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Stains very well; Varnishing: Very Good to Excellent;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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 |
 |
 |
| Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
| Specific Gravity |
0,37 |
0,4 |
|
| Density |
|
480 |
kg/m3 |
| Bending Strength |
447 |
835 |
kg/cm2 |
| Crushing Strength |
20 |
49 |
kg/cm2 |
| Hardness |
|
247 |
kg |
| Impact Strength |
53 |
63 |
cm |
| Shearing Strength |
|
85 |
kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness |
78 |
111 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
| Tangential Shrinkage |
6 |
|
% |
| Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
| Weight |
464 |
464 |
kg/m3 |
| Maximum Load |
0,42 |
0,56 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
| Toughness |
|
239 |
cm-kg |
| Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | | Item | Green | Dry | English | | Bending Strength | 6364 | 11886 | psi | | Crushing Strength | 294 | 706 | psi | | Density | | 30 | lbs/ft3 | | Hardness | | 546 | lbs | | Impact Strength | 21 | 25 | inches | | Maximum Crushing Strength | 2932 | 5902 | psi | | Shearing Strength | | 1221 | psi | | Stiffness | 1116 | 1592 | 1000 psi | | Toughness | | 208 | inch-lbs | | Work to Maximum Load | 6 | 8 | inch-lbs/in3 | | Specific Gravity | 0.37 | 0.4 | | | Weight | 29 | 29 | lbs/ft3 | | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | | Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % | | Volumetric Shrinkage | 10 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Bending strength (MOR) = low 0 Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Weight = medium Toughness (total work) = medium Toughness (total work) = low Soft Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = mediun Crushing strength = medium Can be dented and marred easily Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = high
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