Red Cedar - Toona . sureni (Bl.) Merr.

Red Cedar is preferred for its attractive appearance. Sapwood and heartwood are distinctly different in colour. Heartwood is pale-red to reddish-brown, darkening to a dark red-brown on exposure, with sapwood varying between grey-white, pink or pale-red.

• The grain is straight to interlocked, sometimes wavy, with the texture rather coarse and uneven. Rays small and medium can be seen as well as prominent growth rings. The wood often has an aromatic, cedar-like odor.
• The wood is easy to saw, cross-cut and plane and the planed surface is smooth. It takes a good polish. Some material tends to produce a woolly finish and it is therefore essential to use sharp tools. Mortising, turning, and sanding give moderate results, but boring sometimes gives poor results. The gluing and nailing properties are rated as good but the nail-holding strength is moderate. Wood dust may irritate mucous membranes or induce bronchitis or dermatitis.
• The timber is somewhat refractory in drying and although can be dried rapidly it is prone to warping, collapsing and cupping, particularly with thin planks. Close spacing of fillets and weighting of stacks is recommended. The rates of shrinkage are moderately to fairly high.
• It is used for high class cabinet wood, furniture, interior finishing, decorative paneling, crafts, musical instruments, cigar boxe, plywood, carving, fences; gates; containers; pallets; crates; boxes; cases; vats; industrial and domestic wood ware; tool handles; boats. The timber peels and produces good-class veneer with a nice figure.