I work in the Pacific Northwest as a tree climber removing all types of hazardous Trees. This obviously gives me a wonderful opportunity to obtain wood from a wide range of tree species, most being native to Western Washington. Western Red Cedar has been very difficult for me in one particular project that is very important to me.
The very first tree that I climbed and completely cut down was a cedar. From the very base of that tree I cut a slab off of the stump to take home and make a tabletop. With the natural shape of the trees trunk and growth rings, I am hoping the natural beauty of the tree will be the highlight of this simple project, but I have had a great difficulty and much frustration trying to achieve a polished finish on the end-grain surface that is to be the tabletop.
I have planed the surface, but with cedar being so soft,I only succeeded to get a flat surface with a lot of tear out. So I then began to sand, working my way through all appropriate grits. It seems like I have sanded forever, with less than desirable results.I have finally admitted defeat, and come to you frustrated and in need of guidance. At this point I am ready to try anything. This project is very important to me, and this big piece of very soft wood is all I have to work with. Is it possible to get a polished look from sanding? Am I just impatient? Is there a trick I have not heard about? I do not want to move on to the finish and then think “could I have done better?” every time I look at the final product. So please, HELP!
Replies
Hey,
You took on a project didn't you? Well end grain, especially cedar grain, can be a challenge. You have to be rigorous with your sanding, going from one grit to the next, skipping none, keeping your end grain as flat as you can and, AND!, not burning it with a glazed belt or disc.
But planing it can also be a hurdle for if your iron isn't dead on sharp, it will be very hard for you to cut cleanly.
Try this. Go sharpen your plane iron first, then get some honing compound for it. I use Herb's Yellowstone. Hone your edge with this stuff. It really brings an edge up to a fine polish. Then lightly wet down the surface of the wood to soften the fibers a little and plane with a shearing or angle cut as you work across the end grain. Your passes should be half as thick as a dollar bill. In the .002" range.
It would be even better if you used a low angle plane for this work. A low angle jack plane would work great. Close up the mouth opening so only the finest shaving can come through and have at it.
It will not be quick. It will not be easy. You can do this however. Best of luck with this.
Gary
Yeah, it's a bunch of work. But it sounds like you
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