Spanish Cedar

Spanish Cedar

Other Common Names: 
Cedro

Botanical Name: 
Cedrela spp.

Family: 
Maliaceae

Mature Tree Height, Diameter: 
100 ft , 3-6 ft

Weight @ 12% M/C: 
23-47 lbs./ft.3

Working Properties: 
Easy to work with hand and machine tools, may be difficult to bore cleanly,
good nailing and gluing properties, stains and finishes well.

Growing Regions: 
Mexico to Argentina

General Characteristics: 
Heartwood red to dark reddish brown, grain usually straight, texture medium,
luster medium to high, distinctive cedary odor.

Uses: 
Millwork, fine furniture and cabinetry, musical instruments, boat building,
decorative and utility plywood, cigar wrappers and cigar boxes.

Acceptable Substitutes: 
Mahogany, Andiroba

References: 
"Tropical Timbers of the World", USDA Handbook #607, Sept. 1984, p. 47

Discussion: 
Spanish Cedar is the traditional wood for cigar humidor linings.
The odor, and moisture-retention properties are thought to have the
ability to keep cigars at their best, and also to improve them.
Much Cedar has a moderate to severe tendency to bleed pitch, or resin.