Hello all,

I just got a shipment of Port Orford Cedar from Bear Creek Lumber. This is my first time to see this stuff and it is just beautiful. This is for an heirloom project- the Baby Tender that I posted plans for previously. I wanted the very best. For years and years I have read about Port Orford Cedar and always wanted to try it. I figured this was a perfect small project to have a go at it with some of the rather pricey stuff. I called Bear Creek Lumber and said "whatcha got?" James said he had a perfectly clear, close enough to quarter-sawn, straight-grained, darned beautiful 2x6x12 that he could sell me if I would buy the whole thing. I agreed and unfortunately to ship it here it became nescessary to cut it into three 4' pieces. I would need 4' pieces anyway, but in hindsight I should have tried shipping it in 8' lengths and then the leftovers could have been more easily used in a kayak or surfboard. It may not have cost more as the dimensional weight would be the same. Anyway, I think after planing and cutting I will only have one 4' section left, and it may just go to stem bands for the two SOF's that are next on the project list.

I had to pay $80 to ship it, and the cost of the board wasn't cheap, but the wood is amazing. It's very lightweight, and it has already filled the house with this smell that's almost like you mixed cedar, pine, and turpentine. I can hardly wait to get it to the bandsaw and open it up and smell that aroma even more. I guess I'm being goofy about some wood, but it is so hard for me to get stuff like this down here I am really stoked to have it sitting in my living room. Yes, well, come on- I have to keep it displayed in the living room for a day or so where I can just look at it. You didn't expect me to take it right to the shop did you?

Am I the only one that feels this way about a cool piece of wood? If I have enough left over, would this make good ribs for a SOF? The same guys I got this from sell "green" oak but I am thinking maybe I have enough here for ribs. Seems it would be a very lightweight SOF as I am using fir for the rest of it, and I know port orford cedar is supposed to bend well. Any thoughts?