Cedar 5x5 sawing suggestions?

[ReedLeb]

I have a partially air-dried Norhtern White Cedar 5x5, 8 ft long, boxed heart, mostly knot free. About 20 growth rings per inch. I'd like to resaw into boards for canoe parts, and for better drying. I have no specific intentions for it at this time but would like to make the "best" use of it. I could get some quarter sawn blanks about 2 1/4" wide (free of heart) and/or some flat sawn about 4 1/2" wide around the heart.
Looking for suggestions on a "cut list" and how to resaw it on a 6" band saw (on the diagonal or on the flat? )
Thanks for any ideas.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

OK. I am no sawyer but I will take a stab at it. I would think that you would want as much vertical grain as possible so cut as in photo. I would make first cut right through center and work from there and keep flipping pieces to get vertical grain or 45 degree grain. Very center heart may be waste. Will dry better without cupping or warping.

 

[patrick corry]

Here's what I would propose. Unfortunately your 5x5 with boxed heart doesn't present the best opportunity for yielding quarter sawn planking or ribs, but there is a place for both quarter sawn and flat sawn in a canoe. The flat sawn 5" planks would work nicely for the sheer plank to avoid installing narrow strips that are sometimes necessary to finish planking. The 2 3/8" rough sawn rib stock will allow finishing to 2 1/4".

Seeing Mr. Tait's image above, I think that's a better option. Especially his comment about better drying stability.

 

[ReedLeb]

Thanks for the input on sawing options. Since I don't have specific use in mind, just want to make the best use of the material.
I'll shoot to get some good quartersawn stock and do the best I can with the rest. I might get a few good pieces of larger flat sawn, but that seems to be more available down the road.
Now I have to figure a setup for sawing an 8' piece on my 6" Powermatic bandsaw. Infeed and outfeed rollers a must, possibly a jig for holding it at 45 degrees.

 

[Rod Tait (Orca Boats)]

If the lumber is pretty dry now warping should not be that much of a problem. And cedar is pretty dimensionally stable and will dry fast once cut.