The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Furniture Finishing

CEDAR

Cedar is of several classes, known as western red cedar, swamp or white cedar and northern white cedar. The western cedar grows to a great height and is large and has red brown heartwood. The eastern and southern cedar grows along the Atlantic Coast to Florida, and is known as swamp cedar, which is pale pink in color. The northern white cedar resembles the western red cedar which has narrow rings of plain brown color.

The annual rings of cedar are narrow but indistinct. Summer wood is thin and is not noticeable when cutting. One particular advantage of northern white cedar is that it does not contain rosin ducts, whereas other species of the cedar family do and are difficult to finish because of the rosin constantly seepins out.

Identification.—Red cedar has a characteristic odor and for that reason does not require any special description for identification. The pale color of the white cedar can easily be distinguished from the red cedar.

Utilization.—Both the white and red cedars are used in the manufacture of moth-proof storage chests, for the linings of drawers, cabinets, etc. This wood is usually finished natural without stain. See Book V for finishing methods.

CHEERY

Cherry is a commonly known fruit tree and the wood is similar to that of mahogany. It has a peculiar odor and is of reddish tinge, ranging from moderately dark to a very dark hue. Since it is very fragile and has little strength it has not been used of late in the manufacture of furniture. However, it is occasionally seen when refinishing antique furniture. It is finished natural in many cases, or can be stained very easily to imitate mahogany.

CHESTNUT

Chestnut is found principally in the Eastern states from Pennsylvania to Georgia and Alabama, and mostly in the mountainous regions. It is not now used extensively in the manufacture of furniture. Chestnut may he confused with oak or black ash. Oak, however, is much heavier, but the chestnut has radial bands of pores which cannot be found in other woods, resembling it in figure of the grain. This wood is used in the manufacture of chairs to some extent and will be found occasionally finished in silver grey, as the pores are large and will take the white filler easily. It will also be found in the manufacture of certain types of breakfast-room furniture and can he stained any shade of brown and finished in any way, similar to oak.