Know Your Wood: Spanish Cedar

Spanish Cedar

Luthier Peter Tsiorba is all about classical and Flamenco guitars, like this sharp item.

Common trade names: Spanish Cedar, Cedro, Central American cedar

Genus: Cedrela odorata

Janka Hardness (pounds-force): 600

Description: Spanish Cedar grows quite slowly. This fact, combined with relatively high worldwide demand, makes this species on the verge of being threatened. It is currently being managed and farmed by the world timber industries, but this will take some time. Mature and unfarmed trees tend to have better working qualities than plantation-grown counterparts, but this is currently under widespread study. Spanish Cedar features a warm and rich red-bronze glow when finished, and the grain is generally straight, though may have some interlocking natures. Cedro has medium texture and poring. This wood stinks unlike another. Once you’ve worked it, you’ll know when you’re around it again. Technically, it's closer to a mahogany than to a cedar. But we'll call it a cedar by convention.

Location: Central and South America, the Caribbean. Plantationed quite slowly in parts such as: Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Hispaniola, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, South Africa, Tanzania, Venezuela

Common Aliases: Akuyari, Atoreb, British Honduras cedar, cedro, cedro chino, Cedro macho, Cedro olorose, Cedro rojo, Central American Cedar, Guyana cedar, Mexican Cedar, West Indian cedar, Tabasco cedar, Tiocuahuitl.

Performance: Glues and finishes well, and is very easy to work with hand and machine tools. The grain can tear easily once blades are slightly compromised, leaving a clouded surface. Sands, stains, and finishes quite well. Natural resins found in Spanish cedar make finishing the wood somewhat more challenging than many. Weathers well. Above average resistance to insects, specifically termites.

The author apologizes for the quality of this picture. Ten years ago, I worked a project building several arched doorways and doors for a man-made grotto retreat. The arches were laminated and pressed, and the doors (poorly seen here, I know.) are glued solid Spanish Cedar. I recall using a marine glue for the project, but it turned out a whole lot better than this awful picture might indicate.

Common Uses: Arched door construction, casings, veneers, plywoods, humidors, musical instruments, furnishings, turnings, cigar boxes, decking, boat building, cabinetry, millworks, coffins, chairs, windows, sills.

From: The Wood Database

Common Name(s): Spanish Cedar, Cedro
Scientific Name: Cedrela odorata
Distribution: Native to Central and South America and the Caribbean; also grown on plantations
Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 30 lbs/ft3 (475 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .38
Hardness: 600 lbf (2,670 N)
Rupture Strength: 11,640 lbf/in2 (80,280 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 1,338,000 lbf/in2 (9,230 MPa)
Crushing Strength: 6,210 lbf/in2 (42.8 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 4.2%, Tangential: 6.3%, Volumetric: 10.3%, T/R Ratio: 1.5