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Date Posted: 07:22:00 01/16/07 Tue
Author: S. Patterson
Author Host/IP: bas3-toronto63-1128670934.dsl.bell.ca / 67.70.38.214
Subject: Re: Cedar
In reply to: Pete 's message, "Cedar" on 05:43:52 01/16/07 Tue

There is a misconception that all "cedar" species are a) highly aromatic or release VOC's in dangerous quantities or b) cause respiratory distress in small mammals.

This is inherently untrue. I recently co-authored a paper entitled "Cavity nesting materials of Glaucomys sabrinus and Tamiasciurus hudsonicus in southern Ontario – a case of the nest-protection hypothesis?" and we contend that flyers and reds PURPOSELY choose eastern white cedar bark and leaves as a nesting material, almost exclusively, in fact. We postulate that this is an instinctual behaviour due to the anitparasitic properties of cedar. Reducing a nests' parasite load is in the best interest of the animal (and its offspring, in the case of a natal nest).

Keep in mind that, in North America, the commercial cedar chip products are not really cedar, but juniper! Commercial cedar chips sold as bedding material for small animals is acually eastern red cedar, which is extremely aromatic and is not a member of the cedar family. Its scientific name is Juniperus virginiana. "Cedars" of the genus Thuja (eastern white and western red) are nowhere near as aromatic as Juniperus "cedars". All these "cedars" belong to the cypress family, so they are not really cedars, and the only true cedars are in the genus Cedrus in the pine family. And Cedrus is not found in North America.

I give my flyers all the cedar bark they can use to make their own nests. They instinctually strip it off the bark from cedar limbs I have in their living quarters and supplement their nests with it.

In a nutshell, you can go out and make all the eastern white cedar or western red cedar furniture you want. (Of course, wood dust can be an irritant by itself, let alone any VOCs that may be present, so always use a dust mask when sanding or cutting in your workroom).

I don't see a problem with using a water-based urethane as a finish, especially if your flyer is not a chewer.

>Obviously I don’t use cedar wood chips due to it’s
>aromatic nature. Actually I never use any resinous
>wood chips, only members of populus. I have never
>lived in a house fancy enough to have cedar closets or
>furniture. I personally love the smell and used to
>make musical instruments out of it. I am hoping to
>build some furniture for the room where my FS resides.
> I am debating whether or not cedar will irritate him.
> And whether or not I will finish it with a permeable
>or impermeable(polyurethane) finish.
>
>Who has had success or problems with cedar closets or
>furniture? (neutrality probably means success) AND
>is that furniture finished with a polyurethane or
>natural finish (can you small it?)
>
>Thanks, pete

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