Official Luthiers Forum!

After the massive hi-jack of the kerfing post, I thought I'd ask this in a seperate thread.

Does anyone use this for linings? I know it's knotty and brittle but it sure does smell good.

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Horton, MI

Kirt,

I don't know about Aromatic Red Cedar, but LMI offers
kerfed linings made from Port Orford Cedar.

I've heard that the aroma fades over time, but my 1st OLF SJ (in which I used
POC kerfed linings) still smells good more 9 months after completion.

I'm not sure if I traded away some rigidity (as compared w/ Mahogany
linings) for that nice aroma, though.

Eric

if you can not use it for a continuous lining then use it for "Tentellones"
Single pieces!
I love the perfume from that wood-look for some close to straight grain pieces and go for it!!!!

I made a "Flamenco" rosette a few years back with it!!!
I have many shelves in my shop made of it!

Looks great !!!!!

mike

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Mike Collins

If you want to use the aromatic red cedar (cedar closet lining wood) you could just laminate a layer onto the end block. However, spanish Cedar (cigar box lining wood) is also available for backs and sides, necks, and you could use it for linings or end blocks.

The one attractive thing about it is, it grows in my back yard!

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Horton, MI

I have made Triangle kerfed linings out of eastern aromatic red cedar (juniperus virginiana) but never have got the courage to use them. Very Soft, Very Brittle. The lobes(?) on the lining could be easily flicked off with a finger nail and didn't seem strong enough to hold the top/back on.

If I were to try it I would make the reverse kerf linings so the lobes would be glued to the side of the body.

If you want to use it -but are afraid of it'd fragility -laminate it to
another wood!
That may work for you !


Mike

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Mike Collins

Have you smelled Spanish Cedar? Way better than (IMHO) then eastern cedar. I dunno, I like eastern cedar, but it makes me think of gerbils. Spanish, like you heard above is what high end humidors are made out of. Really nice stuff.

Mike

Thanks for the input guys. I have used spanish cedar, and it's nice stuff, and I know what you mean about the gerbils.
Good ideas regarding laminating or reversed. I'll have to cut some up and experiment a little. It just happens I have a piece in the back of my truck right now. Had to get rid of a tree that my wife didn't like growing in her flower garden.

Cheers.

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Horton, MI

You know what? Aromatic cedar would make an awsome material for building guitar cases. (so would Spanish cedar, but that would get expensive). I guess it is possible to buy the shell and then build the inside... use cedar and cover with plush stuff. Would smell great!

Mike

You can buy 1/16" thick x 4 x 48 strips of Aromatic red cedar (used as closet paneling) and line a raw case with it for less than $40

The aroma of red cedar will, indeed, fade to the point that it is not perceptible after a while. I see no reason why it wouldn't make good, light weight linings, at least if it's relatively straight grained. By the way, the cedar aroma comes right back after the oxidation is sanded away. If you've got a cedar lined closet that doesn't smell like cedar any more, just move your clothes out, sand the lining, vacuum up, and reinstall the clothes. You'll see what I mean.

Which begs this question. Can one buy the "shell" of a case and custom fit it one's self?