alternative to white cedar

[samb]

Living in the UK has many problems: At the moment, my main concern is the total lack of availability of white cedar! For the job I'm doing, red cedar just will not match.
I can get hold of one plank of yellow cedar. I know it's a cyprus rather than a cedar, but my research tells me it is can be steam bent and is used for boats.
Could I have you thoughts please? As this is the only plank of anything near suitable within 250 miles I need to make a decision quickly - who knows how many other Britains are doing canoes up at this moment!

 

[Benson Gray]

Try it and let us know how it goes. The thread at http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?207905 about the struggle to find suitable canoe building woods in South Africa may also interest you. The short summary is that is almost always better to use the woods that are readily available. Good luck,

Benson

 

[mccloud]

This is just a shot-in-the-dark, but since longbows were made of Taxus, or Yew, that wood must be strong and somewhat flexible. Certainly darker in color than white cedar, closer to western red cedar in that regard. If some could be obtained AIR DRIED, I would determine how well it steam bends, and if the answer turns out to be 'not so good', then I might still use it for planking. Tom McCloud

 

[samb]

I'll be having a go with the yellow cedar, driving half way across the country to get it today.
I have been through European timbers in my mind, but have not yet found anything suitable. Yew is not available in large enough sizes and is heavy; home grown red cedar smells the same as the American/Canadian stuff but has knots all over and the rings are far apart. Other timbers are notorious for poor seasoning or shrinking or not being at all durable. Perhaps this is why canoes were developed in the Americas?

Sam

 

[samb]

So I picked up the plank today - rather expensive, but seeing it is so rare and should last me for quite a number of repair jobs its ok. The plank was listed as white / yellow cedar. The bloke didn't know which and I had to educate him that they were two different woods. When I got home, I googled for identification details. Looks wise they are very similar, the big give away is that yellow cedar smells like raw potatoes! I couldn't really imagine that smell, but cut the length off I needed. Next time I went in the garage it hit me - just like opening a bag of potatoes, with the slightly damp soil smell. Yellow cedar it is!
I hope to start machining tomorrow for 5 ribs and 8' of planking. I'll let you know how I get on.

Sam

 

[Dan Lindberg]

Make a few spare ribs, for when you break a few.

Dan

 

[Uggymoo]

I live on the west coast of British Columbia. Canada and there are quite a few builders here that use yellow cedar . Check out http://www.orcaboats.ca/index.htm