Honduras cedar

From CAMEO
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Bishop's chair
MFA Acc. # 1980.171

Description

A cedar tree, Cedrela mexicana, native to Central America. The Honduras cedar produces a reddish-brown, straight-grain wood. It is durable and has been used for boat-planking, cabinetry, and carving.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Cedrela mexicana; Cedrala mexicana; Cedrela odorata; cedro de las indias (Esp.); cedro das Honduras (Port.); cigar-box cedar; Spanish cedar; Mexican cedar; West Indian cedar; Central American cedar

Spanish cedar (Cedrala mexicana)

Physical and Chemical Properties

  • Heartwood is uniform pinkish to reddish brown; darkens with age; no to little patterning.
  • Grain is straight with medium texture and moderate natural luster
  • Density = 28-45 ppcf

Working Properties

  • Easy to work with both hand and machine tools; its low density and softness can leave fuzzy surfaces if not machined with sharp cutters
  • Extra sanding up to finer grits may be required to obtain a smooth wood surface
  • Natural gum pockets can remain wet and ooze out, sometimes gumming saw blades and hindering finishing

Resources and Citations

  • The Wood Database: Spanish Cedar
  • F. H. Titmuss, Commercial Timbers of the World, The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965

Retrieved from "https://cameo.mfa.org/index.php?title=Honduras_cedar&oldid=92383"