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Finishing aromatic Cedar
- Thread starter jwavem
- Start date
I wouldn't wory about retaining the aroma. The problem is to retain the red color. I have had the best luck puting suntan lotion on before varnish. Only time will tell how well this works as I just tried it a few months ago but it seems to work so far.
I will be watching this post to see if the aroma can be preserved through a finish.
I will be watching this post to see if the aroma can be preserved through a finish.
I've worked some with cedar and found that every time a seal coat of anything is applied the aroma is lost. I has to be the bare wood. Just my experience.
ken
ken
R
Ron Sardo
Guest
jwavem said:
Yes you will lose the aroma with any finish.
Even with no finish you will lose the aroma after time, but all you need to do is a light sanding and it will come back.
Three things.
Yes, you seal the outside and lose the aroma but you can still smell any unfinished spots such as the bottom or outside (if you leave them that way). A light sanding of these surfaces occasionally will refresh the odor.
Second, the oils in the cedar can eventually disolve some finishes. I've had Deft spray on laquer turn gummy after about a year. If it does this, just clean it off with alcohol and refinish with eurythane.
Third, keep it out of direct sunlight and/or use some spar varnish or UV resistant eurythane on it and it will keep it's color longer. I've got a couple of pieces that are 5 years old and still have a nice, deep, reddish glow, though they lose the pink and purple tones over time.
A final suggestion. Cedar is a very strong irritant so make sure you've got good dust protection such as a respirator and an air filter. Good way to give yourself nosebleeds and a nice cough.
Dietrich
Yes, you seal the outside and lose the aroma but you can still smell any unfinished spots such as the bottom or outside (if you leave them that way). A light sanding of these surfaces occasionally will refresh the odor.
Second, the oils in the cedar can eventually disolve some finishes. I've had Deft spray on laquer turn gummy after about a year. If it does this, just clean it off with alcohol and refinish with eurythane.
Third, keep it out of direct sunlight and/or use some spar varnish or UV resistant eurythane on it and it will keep it's color longer. I've got a couple of pieces that are 5 years old and still have a nice, deep, reddish glow, though they lose the pink and purple tones over time.
A final suggestion. Cedar is a very strong irritant so make sure you've got good dust protection such as a respirator and an air filter. Good way to give yourself nosebleeds and a nice cough.
Dietrich
Dietrich is 10000000000000000% correct about Cedar being an irritant. At first, it's a lovely smell. That's b/c you're likely only plowing through sapwood, but wait until you get to the heartwood. When you start flinging all heartwood chips, especially from a tree about a foot or bigger in diameter, you'll galvanize your esophagus with Cedar oil and you won't like Cedar for a very long time.
Last time I turned cedar, oh, about two weeks ago, I wore a strong dust mask and still suffered. Next time I'm strapping on the respirator.
Last time I turned cedar, oh, about two weeks ago, I wore a strong dust mask and still suffered. Next time I'm strapping on the respirator.
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Redfish said:
Makes sense, since the sense of smell is chemical. Though the dust may contain oils, it's the oils that don't contain dust that you smell when working cedar which cause the problems. Good organic respiratior with activated carbon filters is the solution. Oh yes, same applies to other woods known for their durability. It's the insecticides and fungicides they contain which irritate and can cause respiratory and dermatological problems.
If cedar, and none of our US cedars is, BTW, didn't grow as a tree, I doubt we could sell it, it has so many dangerous chemicals.