Port Orford cedar= quality in limited quantity

IAUSTOMERS who like the unusVualand unique will be intrigued by Port Orford cedar, a light-colored cedar with a small market in the U.S.

Grown exclusively in a limited area on the Pacific Coast between Coos Bay, Or., and Eureka, Ca., this cedar is often called the wood with the porcelain finish. Uniform and fine in texture, it has a straight and even grain with nearly white to pale yellowish white sapwood which is difficult to distinguish from heartwood.

Good machining properties, moderate shrinkage, lightness, an ability to stay in place and a resistance to decay make Port Orford cedar a good choice for outdoor projects such as planters, fences, decks and siding. Although it willweather naturally to a silvery light gray without weather checks, it also has good paint-holding properties. Paneling and closet linings are favorite interior uses for the wood.

Although domestic production is limited, less than four million board feet annually, quantities of Port Orford cedar logs are sent to Japan where they are a substitute for that country's native white cedar. A favorite of Japanese builders and craftsmen for centuries, the wood is used for construction and repair of shrines and temples as well as in woodenware, novelties and the toy industry.

In this country, sports fans are often on more intimate terms with Port Orford cedar than the rest ofthe population since it is used for seats in stadiums throughout the country. Its exceptional strength, nearly as strong as white oak, makes it ideal for this use.

Crump Stadium, Memphis, Tn.; Baylor University Bowl, Waco, Tx.; Stanford U. ; University of Arizona, Tucson, Az.; Parker Stadium, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Or., and the Rose Bowl, Pasadena. Ca., are among the most well known structures equipped with Port Orford cedar seats. Bleachers on school campuses, at parks and recreational areas and in amphitheaters have been constructed of Port Orford cedar for many years.

Although it is a relatively unknown species, Port Orford cedar has a long history of use and durability. Records show that in l88l Lewers and Cooke sold 10,377 feet of Port 0rford cedar to the U.S. Department of Interior for architectural millwork at Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Hi. In the 1960s and 1970s, the woodwork, which had been painted in 1915, was refinished and restored. The renovation included milling 28,000 Port Orford cedar slats to replace a portion of the approximately 52,520 slats used in window shutters.

Scotland also has used quantities of Port Orford cedar over the years for high class interior finishing. A substitute for first quality Quebec yellow pine, Port Orford cedar has been used for the interiors of many well known buildings in Glasgow as well as in larger homes. The wood has been popular for architectural panels in ships built in the Clyde River Shipyards in addition to being used for decking on yachts.

Story at a Glance

Ways to market Port Odord cedar for outdoor projects, interior jobs such as paneling or closet linings. .. limited availability can be a plus with customers who value exclusiveness.

Although limited quantities of Port Orford cedar are being manufactured in 1988, the dealer who has access to it can sell its durability and workability as well as its appearance and limited quantities. The customer who likes to work with oualitv will appreciate its assets.