At the expo i bought a few blocks of what i think is red cedar for handles.
Turns great and i love the weight especially if you bore to 18 mm and foam core it,
Great red and yellow tones.
So i went to local lumber yards to get more.
Am i right in asking for Red Cedar?
What i get (the few places that have any kind of selection) is 'western red cedar' and it is pale and knotty and just not the same.
It more like bad grade of a pine.
Sort of smell very similar to cedar when i test turn it.

So what was that wood at the expo?

More than likely what you got at the expo was eastern red cedar, also known as aromatic cedar. I've turned a lot of handles and agree it's great stuff. 90% of the wooden handles I turn are with it. In fact, my supply is almost down to nothing, time to find some more!

Thanks,
Chad Huderle

Huderle Custom Rods
Prior Lake, MN

Hi Lou,
Archie Elgin was selling the blocks at the Expo and they are light for grips even without a foam core. Tom or Bill Ballou should be able to point you in the right direction.

ESFNEM Col
Port Kembla, NSW
Australia

Col was half right. He is Archie McCarty and he lives in Elgin MN.
web site-archiescustomfishing handles.com.

He will help you out.

Tanks guys.