Beginner Questions (Ask Them Here!)

Hey guys another quick question. Is there any way to tell if a wood is spanish cedar or not? Do you just have to take a manufacturers word for it? Thanks again.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by saru22

Hey guys another quick question. Is there any way to tell if a wood is spanish cedar or not? Do you just have to take a manufacturers word for it? Thanks again.

Examine it closely & observe the grain.

This is Spanish Cedar:

More info: http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-...spanish-cedar/

This is Western Red Cedar (best avoided):

More info: http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-...ern-red-cedar/

This is Aromatic Red Cedar (You really don't want this - this what they line closets with):

More info: http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-...tic-red-cedar/


Another wood sometimes seen in humidor lining use is Mahogany, which is great for humidor use (possibly even superior to SC), it just doesn't have an aroma and it costs a lot more than SC, hence why it's not as common. Why Mahogany you ask? Well, Spanish Cedar is not actually a softwood cedar, but rather it's in same family of trees as Mahogany hardwood, but it has a cedar like aroma, hence how it got it's name.

You can look up what mahogany grain looks like here: http://www.wood-database.com/wood-identification/
(should be immediately evident that it's almost the same as SC grain)



Oh, and when in doubt...

[Big_Ern]

great answer. I have wondered that a lot myself. thanks for the cut and clear answer.

Seriously that was a great answer. Thank You. I'm curious to go home and compare my humi to those pics now..

[markem]

Originally Posted by volfan

also, spanish cedar is actually a kind of mahogany and not even in the same family as cedar.

Scottie knows!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedrela

[T.G]

Originally Posted by volfan

also, spanish cedar is actually a kind of mahogany and not even in the same family as cedar.

that is why some older humidors are actually lined with mahogany.

scottie

Originally Posted by markem

Scottie knows!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedrela

Knows, yet didn't read two posts up!

Originally Posted by T.G

Another wood sometimes seen in humidor lining use is Mahogany, which is great for humidor use (possibly even superior to SC), it just doesn't have an aroma and it costs a lot more than SC, hence why it's not as common. Why Mahogany you ask? Well, Spanish Cedar is not actually a softwood cedar, but rather it's in same family of trees as Mahogany hardwood, but it has a cedar like aroma, hence how it got it's name.

[T.G]

Originally Posted by volfan

sorry for the re-iteration, and nice comment

No need to apologize bro. To be honest, it doesn't bother me in the slightest, I was just taking the opportunity to flip you some chit over it, hence the " ".