open main page for all woods          open page 2 for articles



CEDAR, INCENSE

Calocedrus decurrens

Calocedrus decurrens of the family Cupressaceae. There are actually three species that most commonly are called incense cedar but two of them are obscure woods in the USA: There is another obscure (in the USA) species in Argentina and Chile called Chilean incense cedar and that is Pilgerodendron uvifera. We in the USA would not categorize that as a cedar at all.

my samples:
NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K)
colors will vary under other lighting conditions




both sides of a sample plank of incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of pencil cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site. This Canadian sample vendor calls this pencil cedar, but I believe that to be incorrect and that Calocedrus decurrens is only appropriately called incense cedar (pencil cedar refers to a lot of species in the Juniperus genus).


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample and the one directly below were contributed to the site by Chuck Neeley, whom I thank.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens --- HUGE enlargements are present. This saample and the one directly above were contributed to the site by Chuck Neeley, whom I thank.


end grain and HIGH GRIT END GRAIN CLOSEUP of the piece directly above

web pics:


polished log end


planks labeled as just incense cedar




sections of large slabs, all from the same vendor and all listed as incense cedar / Calocedrus decurrens


turning stock


rough-cut planks used as paneling --- as you can see in the enlargement, these might even have been sand-blased to bring out a texture to the grain


planks ready to use as decking


toungue-and-groove flooring planks


paneling


exterior siding and fence both labeled as just incense cedar


fancy window of incense cedar (MIGHT be some other form of cedar)


very nicely done box of incense cedar, making good use of some raw wood features including grooves in the top that were likely made by worms just under the bark