softwood · Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Port Orford Cedar wood properties
Also known as: lawson cypress.
| Type | softwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Chamaecyparis lawsoniana |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,646,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.47 |
| Density (approx) | 29 lb/ft³ (2.4 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 590 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 6.9% / 4.6% |
| Region | Pacific Northwest United States |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Port Orford Cedar weighs about 9.8 lb (roughly 29 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 590 lbf is harder than about 24% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: arrow shafts, musical instrument soundboards, boatbuilding, boxes and chests, decking, interior millwork.
Durability: Heartwood resists both decay and most insects well, earning a durable to very-durable rating.
Workability: Handles smoothly with hand or powered tools and takes paint, stain, glue and finish well.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Port Orford Cedar:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE (1,646,000 lbf/in2), Janka (590 lbf) and shrinkage (T 6.9%, R 4.6%) from The Wood Database, which cites the USDA FPL Wood Handbook. Specific gravity 0.47 is the 12% MC value (page lists basic 0.39, 12% MC 0.47). No dimensional change coefficient given: Port Orford Cedar has no exact row in the FPL/Hoadley table reproduced by Popular Woodworking, so CT/CR are omitted. Region, uses, durability and workability summarized from The Wood Database. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.