Cedar — Identification, Uses and Properties
Cedrus atlantica Manetti Pinaceae
Sawn timber appearance grading No conventional grading rules. Sawn products are graded according to final uses.
This wood is interesting for structures requiring a good durability as well as a low
SOFTWOOD EUROPE TURNED GOODS
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Botanical Name(s)
Cedrus atlantica Manetti
Family
Pinaceae
Wood type
Softwood
Local Names
Atlantische zeder (Germany), Cedro del Atlas (Spain), Cèdre de l’Atlas (France), Cedro dell’Atlante (Italy), Atlas cedar (United Kingdom)
Origin Region
Europe
Main End Uses
Turned goods · Heavy carpentry · Cabinetry (high-end furniture) · Exterior joinery · Interior joinery · House framing · Sliced veneer · Exterior panelling · Marquetry
Wood Identification Guide
Reference Colour
Yellow brown
Texture
Medium
Grain
Straight
Sapwood
Clearly demarcated
Interlocked Grain
Absent
Notes
Yellow brown to reddish brown. Cedar’s odour is strong and characteristic. It lasts a long time. A thin brown silver figure is visible with the naked eye on the quartersawn.
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Log Description
Tree height
65 – 115 ft
Tree height
20 – 35 m
Diameter
50 to 80 cm cm
Sapwood Thickness
4 to 10 cm cm
Buoyancy
Not applicable
Log Conservation
Good
Diameter
19.7 to 31.5 in in
Sapwood Thickness
1.6 to 3.9 in in
Physical & Mechanical Properties
Density
0.51 g/cm³ @ 12% MC
Density
31.8 lb/ft³
Monnin Hardness
2.4
Janka Hardness
720 lbf
Janka Hardness
3,203 N
Volumetric Shrinkage Coefficient
0.37 % / %
Tangential Shrinkage
6 %
Radial Shrinkage
4.1 %
T/R Anisotropy Ratio
1.5
Fibre Saturation Point
28 %
Thermal Conductivity
0.18 W/m·K
Thermal Conductivity
0.104 BTU/(h·ft·°F)
Lower Heating Value
19,120 MJ/kg
Lower Heating Value
8,220 BTU/lb
Crushing Strength
42 MPa
Crushing Strength
6,092 psi
Bending Strength (MOR)
82 MPa
Bending Strength (MOR)
11,893 psi
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)
10,100 MPa
Modulus of Elasticity (MOE)
1,464,881 psi
Durability & Treatment
Resistance to Decay
Class 1-2 – very durable to durableDry Wood Borers
Class D - durable (sapwood demarcated, risk limited to sapwood)Termites
Class M - moderately durableTreatability
Class 3 - poorly treatable Cross sections of Cedrus atlanticaUse Class
Class 3 - not in ground contact, outsidePreservation Requirements
Against Dry Wood Borers
This wood does not require any preservation treatmentTemporary Humidification
This wood does not require any preservation treatmentNotes
Use class 3 only covers wood components without sapwood. This species is listed in the NF EN 350 standard (May 2013). According to the European standard NF EN 335 of May 2013, performance length might be modified by conditions in which it is used.Drying Schedule & Risks
Drying Rate
Rapid
Risk Distortion
High risk
Risk Case Hardening
No known specific risk
Risk Checking
No risk or very slight risk
Risk Collapse
No known specific risk
Suggested Schedule
Schedule #4 (see explanatory note)
Sawing & Machining
Blunting Effect
Normal
Tooth For Sawing
Stellite-tipped
Machining Tools
Tungsten carbide
Suitability Peeling
Good
Suitability Slicing
Good
Notes
Small, very hard knots are present in the wood. Cedar yields good results in turnery.Assembling & Finishing
Nailing Screwing
Good but pre-boring necessary
Fire Safety & Ratings
Euroclass
D-s2, d0 Default grading for solid wood that meets requirements of European standard NF EN 14081-1 (April 2016): structural graded timber in vertical uses and ceilings with minimal mean density of 0.35 and minimal thickness of 22 mm.
CITES & Trade Restrictions
CITES Status
No trade restrictions
Trade Notes
Comes from North Africa. Introduced in France in the
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