: I stopped by Lowe's on the way home Friday and found some 12' cedar that
: looked ok. I am going to try this and just but joint the ends. I spent all
: day Sunday ripping these down and after that I have decided I will
: probably by milled strips for boat #2.

Check out the price on those premilled strips and compare it to what you spent for the wood from Lowes, and the time you spent on ripping it. I think you'll go back to ripping.

I like to take those boards and rip them in half, then cut a 2 foot long taper on the ends and join the two pieces into a longer, thinner plank. A 12 foot 1 x 8 becomes roughly a 22 foot 1 x 3.5 I use epoxy resin for the joint or wood glue, depending on what I have on hand. These long planks are then ripped into long strips, sparing me from having to scarf short strips into long ones.

: . . . The cedar came out ok, but I think
: I have that cedar sensitivity that Rehd was discussing earlier. I
: appreciate everyones post on this subject, and I am sure you will hear
: from me again with some more questions.

Long sleeves help to keep the sawdust off your arms. A repirator mask helps keep the dust out of your lungs. You can buy all these things for less than the cost of a handful of premilled strips. You will get more dust on you from the sanding later on, so you might as well be prepared for it.

If the sawdust from ripping strips bothers you, consider using a different wood species before you get too deep into the project. Aspen, poplar and birch are rather benign, and so are common pine spruce and fir. these amy be more expensive than cedar, but "cheap" wood that makes you ill is no bargain. Most of these species are also slightly heavier than cedar, but you can make thinner strips, too.

Hope this helps.

PGJ