Carving in cedar

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MikeDe1025
Posts: 69
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:36 pm

Carving in cedar

Post by MikeDe1025 »

Well, first off, Happy Mother's Day to anyone who is. And to some of us other's, like myself, who may arbitrarily carry that title.

OK, I love doing some woodwork using cedar because of the beauty of it; the ease of working with it; sanding; palm sanding and all the rest. Now that I've got a Shark and dipping into that aspect of woodworking I'm wondering how our machines and tools handle a piece of cedar. Nothing anymore special than a board that we can find at Lowe's or Depot. I know all of it's characteristics but no idea of how it reacts under a screeming Bosch Colt with a router bit.

Anyone here able to give some pro's and con's of running a project in cedar if you've done it before? Any tips as well would be a plus too.

Thanks as always,

Mike

Kevink18
Posts: 205
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:30 pm

Re: Carving in cedar

Post by Kevink18 »

I have had no problems cutting cedar. I left all the defalt settings and did a 3D cowboy and it turned out great

BillK
Posts: 885
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 3:08 am

Re: Carving in cedar

Post by BillK »

V-Carving in Cedar also works great.
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BillK
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MikeDe1025
Posts: 69
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 7:36 pm

Re: Carving in cedar

Post by MikeDe1025 »

Perfect. Thanks guys. I was hoping that would be the answer. Onward and upward.


Mike

gordread
Posts: 175
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:02 pm
Location: Onoway, Alberta
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Re: Carving in cedar

Post by gordread »

I do a lot of work in cedar, then only thing I recommend is taking small bites with you have to use large clearing bits, they can rip up the soft wood pretty good, and cause splinters where you really don't want them.

I've never had any problems with 3D or v-carving, etc. Only really when using 1/2" clearing bits, or sometimes 1/4" if I'm not careful.

Gordon

KarenW
Posts: 353
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:42 pm

Re: Carving in cedar

Post by KarenW »

I've worked with red (aromatic) cedar and western cedar both and they both carve very nicely.
The red cedar seems to hold sharp edges better.
I do agree with Gordon though -- tone down the aggressive carving a bit.
While it may be tempting to get right on it it's best to be mindful of chip-out.
I've also found it's essential to seal the cuts before staining or painting them since both will spider the color otherwise.
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Karen

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