: I am about to build my first kayak (from plans) and would like to know if I
: can use a cedar beam (clear) 6" x 6" x 12' to cut my planks
: from. My table saw is capable of making the 1/4" rips and as I am a
: home builder, this is my least expensive way to buy the lumber. Thanks for
: your help.

Absolutely. Have fun!

Since you are starting with a square beam you can rip it first into boards of whatever thickness you choose -- and you can choose the grain direction in these boards so that you get the grain direction you prefer in your final strips. If you make these boards 3/4 to 7/8 inch thick you may have just about enough boards to rip all the strips you'll need from a single beam. If you go for 3/16 inch thick strips instead of 1/4 inch strips you will not only get a 25% reduction in wood weight in the boat, but you'll get a few more strips from that beam.

You may find it faster to make nominal 2 x 6 boards from your beam and then rip those into strips. Then you can stack your 2 by 1/4 strips and rip 5 to 10 at one time down to about 7/8 by 1/4.

Personally, after making the thiner boards from that beam, I'd make a couple of nominal 1x3 or 2x3 boards and scarf them together with a 2 foot long tapered joint, giving me a 20 foot long board, which I would rip into some full-length strips.

Good luck with your project.

Paul G. Jacobson