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Date Posted: 13:06:55 01/17/07 Wed
Author: Dennis
Author Host/IP: unio-cas1-cs-30.dial.bright.net / 209.143.16.160
Subject: Re: Cedar
In reply to: S. Patterson 's message, "Re: Cedar" on 07:22:00 01/16/07 Tue

Thanks for the clarification on the "cedar" wood.


>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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Replies:

  • Re: Cedar -- Agnes, 00:20:28 01/27/07 Sat (c-24-62-228-165.hsd1.nh.comcast.net/24.62.228.165)
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