CENTRAL AMERICAN CEDAR: A
Bears a general resemblance to the softer species of Mahogany and often used as an inexpensive Mahogany substitute. Sometimes known as Aromatic or Cigar Box Cedar and has a very a pleasant cedar fragrance. A superior timber to Brazilain Cedar. FSC Certified.

Production: S/E, DIM.

Cedrela odorata
Family: Meliaceae

Common/vernacular names: Brazilian cedar, Peruvian cedar, Honduras cedar, Cedro (in Latin America), Acajou rouge, and Cigar box cedar (UK name) depending on the country of origin.It should be noted that there are three main commercial species of Cedrela from South and Central America. Cedrela fissilis is the species which produces South American Cedar and Cedrelaodorata is commercially known as Central American cedar.

Note: These species are hardwoods and are not related to the softwood cedar of the Old World, namely Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani). The term 'cedar' has been applied to many timbers, both softwoods and hardwoods, on account of their natural 'cedarlike' scent/fragrance. This is the case with the 'Cedrelas' from South and Central America.

Distribution: Cedrela odorata is distributed throughout Central America including, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize. It also grows in Trinidad, Dominica and other Caribbean islands.

The Tree: The trees are reported to fare better on well-drained humid sites and under favourable conditions can attain a height of 90' to 130' or so (27m to 40m) with trunk diameters of 0.6m to 1.2m. Larger trees are occasionally found with diameters of 2m or more. The trunk is buttressed from 1.5m to 3.5m up the tree and straight clear boles 50' to 80' (15.0 to 24.0m) are common.

The Timber: General characteristics The timber from this species can be very variable and wood from young (fast grown) trees is reported to produce timber which is lighter in colour and softer, although tougher than that from older trees. The more slowly grown, dense and scented timber is more commercial. The heartwood is pinkish to reddish-brown when freshly cut but becomes red or dark reddish- brown after exposure. The sapwood is greyish-white or pinkish and normally well defined from the heartwood. Supplies of the timber can exude oil which appears as a sticky gum on surfaces and this can be a problem when finishing. The grain is reported as being straight to shallowly interlocked with the texture being medium, with darker-coloured material often having a more coarser texture. One of the main characteristics of this timber is its quite pronounced 'cedar-like' scent. In general it can sometimes resemble lighter types of Central American Mahogany which are from the same family.

Density/Weight: The density of this species is quite variable and according to 'The Wood Exchange' on the World Agroforestry's density website it is listed as having a (seasoned) density ranging from 390 to 525 kg/m3. This concurs with information in the 'Handbook of Hardwoods' which gives the density as 370 kg/m3 to 750 kg/m3 with an average density of around 480 kg/m3. The publication 'Tropical Timbers of the World' reports that the basic specific gravity (oven-dry weight/green volume) for this species is 0.30 to 0.60 and the air-dry density is listed as 23 to 47 Ibs/ft3.

Drying and Shrinkage:Central American cedar is generally an easy wood to dry, either by air-drying or in a kiln. Rapid drying can be achieved with generally only a small amount of warp, checking and end splitting, although it does have a tendency under certain conditions, for knots to split. The timber can also exude gum on drying. The radial shrinkage from green to oven-dry is reported to be 4.2% and for tangential 6.3%; with a volumetric rate of 10.3%. Movement in service is rated as small.

Durability: The heartwood is rated as durable, although it is reported that there is some variability in this. It is resistant to termites, but has low resistance to marine borers.

Preservation: The heartwood is extremely resistant to impregnation with wood preservatives, whilst information regarding treatment of the sapwood is not conclusive, with some sources reporting that it is permeable.

Strength: The strength of Central American Cedar is roughly comparable to Honduras Mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla, in all strength properties except hardness, resistance to shear and compression and tension across the grain, in which it is a little inferior.

Mechanical Properties
(Ultimate stresses based on testing, not to be used for design)

Working Properties: A timber which is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, with little dulling of cutting edges. It planes to a clean surface and normally finishes smoothly, although knives and saws must be kept sharpened in order to avoid 'wooliness'. The presence of gum in some logs can sometimes be problematic in planing and polishing. It has good nailing and screwing properties, and can be glued satisfactorily. The timber is
also used for veneer.

Uses: Central American Cedar is utilised for a variety of end uses, from furniture, panelling, cabinet- making, high-class joinery, cigar boxes, boat-parts, doors, drawing boards, light construction, Venetian blinds, plywood to musical instruments. Technical information supplied by TRADA Technology.

Timber Certification: We have established a supply of Cedar from Central America which is produced from well managed forests, independently certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council A.C. All our certified timber is processed through our Chains of Custody which are audited by BM TRADA Certification.

JBT Comments: Bears a general resemblance to the softer species of Mahogany and can be used as a Mahogany substitute where an inexpensive Certified Mahogany type timber is required.

Grade: FAS/Selects and better. Graded to NHLA rules.

Specification: Square edge: 8ft and longer, 6ins and wider. Allowing 5%, 4ins/5ins and 10% 6ft/7ft.

Stockholding: 1500 cubic feet in kiln dried stock or stock in kilns available in 1ins, 11/2ins, 2ins, 21/2ins, 3ins and 4ins thickness.