Custom Aromatic Red Cedar 6 foot Dining Table

Now that’s one rustic dining room set. Great job!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

This piece has a lot of visual interest. The top is beautiful.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

this is a beautiful piece of furniture , however aromatic cedar has health consequences….Mostly Asthma / breathing problems for humans and pets…also some skin contact irritations can develope….There is a lot of info online regarding this subject….as much as I love cedar , I can’t use it or be around it for very long without difficulty breathing….more than 3 out of 10 ppl suffer reactions from the toxins in aromatic cedar and hopefully no one is still using A.C. shavings for their pets bedding material…..the following is an excerpt from a study found online…...

The primary irritant in cedar is plicatic acid and western red cedar contains the highest concentrations although eastern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) also contain it. Exposure to plicatic acid can cause or exacerbate asthma, rhinitis or conjunctivitis in humans and in animals, and the damage can be progressive. Asthmatics who are continuously exposed to cedar,...........

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

Hey Dusty, Yes I have a few friends that are allergic to it. I guess since I live in the middle of 350 acres of cedar I have built up a tolerance for it and poison ivy :) I always work with it outside as far as cutting, sanding, etc…as I do not like working with it inside my shop. I always seal my pieces from all sides with heavy coats of Poly. I have noticed where ever I have a lot of shavings outside on the ground that there is no fire ants or any bugs for that matter. My favorite wood is Pecan and second is Mesquite.

-- Frank, Little River - Academy, Texas , www.allthingsrustix.com

Yes , It is a shame about my own allergies because I really do love the look and aroma of the cedar : )
Never had the oppurtunity yet to see in person or work with your fav woods , however pictures I’ve seen look great ! Boy this site is really addictive and it is nice to see what opinions fellow woodworkers have of our projects….take care : )

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

Frank,

I really like the look and design of this table. The rustic look give it a lot of character.

Thanks for the post.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Excellent use of a great piece of timber.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Beautiful job! I was curious if the finish might prevent any type of alergic reaction? I would think that the finish would seal the wood so that Dusty 56 could sit down to a good meal without worry. I think Dusty 56 makes a good point, that we have to be careful with the wood we use (I have to wear a very good dust mask with some woods when cutting or sanding, or I stop breathing shortly after..something you don’t forget) I can’t remember having any problems, however, after the finish was applied. Just something that might add to the conversation.

-- jwegal@ix.netcom.com

I would think the aromatic cedar would have no effect after being sealed with almost any finish.

-- jwegal@ix.netcom.com

Awesome table and chairs. I’ll be looking for the benches when you post them., Wish there was some trees like that in my neck of the woods.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

Great work… I too will be looking for the benches.

-- Chris

Thanx ya’ll for the kind comments…..I think that the real risk is to the woodworker…controlling the exposure to airborne particles…which is probably why on gut instict I mill Cedar outside and stay upwind :) I have noticed some slight irritation when sawing Cedar on the table saw, kind of feels like I just put on some after shave or something, stings my face…..

As for the finish, I normally use a couple of coats of Minwax sanding sealer, sanding with 220 grit between coats, and then I build it up with Poly about 5-10 coats sanding with 220 between coats, with the last two coats using wipe-on Poly so as not to have any brush marks…

-- Frank, Little River - Academy, Texas , www.allthingsrustix.com

Beautiful project. I can image some serious eating taking place on this.

-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.

Beautiful job on the table and chairs. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

A beautiful table, it looks like this one will last forever.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

very nice work.

-- hap, gunbarrel city tx.

Great job!

Thanks for the post

Calum

-- There is no such thing as a mistake....just a design modification

I just love that wood.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Just found this project. Very nice, love the top!