I'd like to turn wooden handles using Eastern Red Cedar. I guess it's also known as aromatic cedar. I'm having trouble finding a source local to the Minneapolis area. Do any of you have any leads I might be able to follow ?

In advance,
Thanks

Eastern Red Cedar is really a Juniper and we have quite a bit of it in Southeastern Minnesota. It grows on quite a few of the bluffs down here. You might try Root River Hardwoods.


Root River Hardwoods
1300 Highway 52 N
Preston, MN 55965
(507) 765-2284

Chad,

Another source would be your local home improvement center. You can get the boxes of tongue and groove strips and rip them down in 1 1/2" or wider strips and glue them together to create blocks for turning. I've done it several times. They make beautiful handles / grips. You could also cut out rings with a hole saw and stack them up or use them for trim rings.

Bill in WV

how much do you want? it grows in my backyard and i have a few trees that need to come down. i may have some pieces already dried if you cant find any.

Thanks Jim,

I ran down to Albert Lea to Root River Hardwoods and they had just what I was looking for. Even picked up some Butternut while I was there!

Thanks for the tip.

Chad Huderle

Glad it worked out for you. Butternut is on of my favorite woods, makes a nice light handle.

Jim