Port-Orford-Cedar
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana · softwood · Pacific Northwest · moderate movement
- Janka hardness 720 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 30 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.43 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 6.9%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 4.6%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.5 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Ginger-scented, fine-ringed arrow and boat stock; stronger than most cedars with the same friendly workability.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for port-orford-cedar across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 3/32″ (0.089″) | 1/16″ (0.059″) |
| 12″ | 3/16″ (0.177″) | 1/8″ (0.118″) |
| 24″ | 11/32″ (0.355″) | 1/4″ (0.237″) |
| 36″ | 17/32″ (0.532″) | 11/32″ (0.355″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to port-orford-cedar:
Typical swings:
Port-Orford-Cedar questions
How much does port-orford-cedar move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn port-orford-cedar board moves about 3/16″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 1/8″. Its tangential shrinkage is 6.9% and radial 4.6% (green to ovendry) — a moderate-movement wood.
How hard is port-orford-cedar?
Port-Orford-Cedar rates about 720 lbf on the Janka scale — softer than red oak but sturdy (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 30 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is port-orford-cedar good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.5:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Loblolly Pine (Southern Yellow) · Shortleaf Pine · Slash Pine · Douglas-Fir · Western Larch · Tamarack
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.