Eastern Red Cedar - Aromatic Cedar Eastern Red Cedar or "aromatic" Cedar are one and the same and have the species name - Juniperus Virgiania. This cedar should not be confused with western red cedar which is a completely different species. Aromatic red cedar heartwood is generally a beautiful salmon pink which ages to reddish brown. Some of our Texas Eastern Red Cedar is also known as "Purple Heart Cedar" due to the dramatic purple color of the Heartwood. Unfortunately - both the lovely heartwood colors, the salmon pink and purple, eventually fade to reddish brown. The sapwood is a creamy white; it also changes color with time; the final color is generally a light tan. Eastern Red Cedar is widely distributed throughout the eastern United States and is cut and milled for flooring, paneling, fencing, cedar chest or decking. Here in Texas, Cedar is primarily used for fenceposts, but we feel that is attractive enough to offer for your woodturning. You can see examples of various bowls and vessels turned from Cedar and other "exotic" Texas woods on my companion website, www.prairiesend.com. As elsewhere, the dimensions given below are Length x Width x Depth of the blank. Theoretically these numbers indicate the dimensions of the largest bowl, box/goblet or spindle that might be turned from that piece if no flaws are encountered. The approximate weight (in pounds) as well as obvious physical features (checks, etc) are also indicated. Note also that most of these are rough cut. I do not have the time or equipment to routinely surface the cut sides - although sometimes I think that the grain is interesting enough that I will take it to the jointer before I take the photo. NEWEST LISTINGS click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Purple Heart Cedar lot 154 18" x 14" x 6" 25 lbs. This is a very nice, large rectangular bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar - the variety locally known as Purple Heart, with a gorgeous deep purple heartwood; the sapwood is a nicely contrasting cream to beige color. That dark bark is loose so a "barky" natural-edge bowl is unlikely in this case. The pith in this log was off-center and that pith is present within this half and is visible on both end-grain faces (both photos). However, that pith appears to be quite tight and crack-free. There are several thin drying checks at one end, where the blank was cut from the end of the log. These checks appear quite shallow and I allowed extra length such that these should trim off when the blank is roughed to round. That is a 14" (max bowl diameter) circle scribed on the top face. I see no significant cracks or other structural weakness in this piece. Aromatic red Cedar lot 154 $50.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Purple Heart Cedar lot 155 15-1/2" x 17" x 6-1/2" 36 lbs. This is another very nice, large rectangular bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar - the variety locally known as Purple Heart, with a gorgeous deep purple heartwood; the sapwood is a nicely contrasting cream to beige color. That dark bark is loose so a "barky" natural-edge bowl is unlikely in this case. If you examine the grain pattern in the top photo, you can see that this piece was cut from the area of a major side limb. I suspect that some nice crotch-related grain is present close to this face (flame or feather??). I would mount and turn this blank for a natural-edge bowl (without bark but with a nice sapwood rim) so that if a nice crotch figure is present, it would be maintained in the lower portion of the bowl. This blank was cut from close to the pith but none of that pith is present (top photo). However, there is one thin, pith-related radial crack in a portion of the top face and upper end-grain face (not really visible on the photos). That feature should be reinforced with CA glue when turning. In a NE bowl form, that pith-crack looks like it would turn-off completely. Both ends are fresh-cut and I see no drying checks. There do not appear to be any other significant structural weaknesses in this piece. Aromatic red Cedar lot 155 $60.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Purple Heart Cedar lot 156 15" x 16" x 4-6" 28 lbs. This is another very nice, large rectangular bowl blank in aromatic, Purple Heart Texas Eastern Red Cedar - the half-brother to lot #155 above. The heartwood is a gorgeous deep purple heartwood and the sapwood is a nicely contrasting cream to beige color. That dark, stringy Cedar bark is also loose and absent in portions, so a "barky" natural-edge bowl is also unlikely in this case. Two secondary limbs were present in this section of the living tree and should make for a very interesting grain pattern in the finished bowl. Those limbs are apparent from the grain pattern visible on the cut top face (the other half of that one on lot #155) and the stub of a second large limb on the backside (bottom photo). Note, that "stub" is a separate limb from the one that formed the swirling grain on the top face. There is even a third small limb on one corner (left edge of the end-grain face, bottom photo), but that will come off as the blank is roughed to round. Again, this blank could be mounted and turned for a natural-edge bowl to take advantage of both of those crotch-related grain patterns. The pith in this log was off-center and a short portion of that pith is present at one end of this half. The pith is visible on the end-grain face of the bottom photo and as the dark round spot at the upper edge of the annotated face on the top photo. There is one small and thin, pith-related radial crack on the end-grain portion of pith but it does not carry thru to the top face. I don't see that minor feature as any constraint to turning. Both ends are fresh-cut and I see no drying checks. There do not appear to be any significant structural weaknesses in this piece. Aromatic red Cedar lot 156 $60.00 END OF NEWEST LISTINGS click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Purple Heart Cedar lot 126 11" x 10" x 3" 10 lbs. This is a nice rectangular bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar - the variety locally known as Purple Heart, with a gorgeous deep purple heartwood; the sapwood is a nicely contrasting cream to beige color. It was cut from close to the pith but very little of that pith is present within the blank (top photo). There are a couple of very thin and tight (and faint) drying checks; they appear to be minor, but should be reinforced with CA glue when turning. I see no significant cracks or other structural weakness in this piece. Sold Aromatic red Cedar lot 126 $20.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Purple Heart Cedar lot 131 5" x 5" x 5" 3 lbs. This is a very nice cube of aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar - the variety locally known as Purple Heart, with a deep purple heartwood and a nicely contrasting cream to beige colored sapwood. The pith is present on one edge but it is tight and sound. I see no cracks or other structural weakness in this piece. Sold Aromatic red Cedar lot 131 $7.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Purple Heart Cedar lot 139 2" x 2" x 10" 1-1/4 lbs. This is a nice square-section, end-grain block of aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar - the Purple Heart variety - with a deep purple heartwood and a nicely contrasting cream to beige colored sapwood. I see no cracks or other structural weaknesses. SOLD Aromatic red Cedar lot 139 $3.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Purple Heart Cedar lot 141 2" x 2" x 10" 1-1/4 lbs. This is another nice square-section, end-grain block of aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar - the Purple Heart variety - with a deep purple heartwood and a nicely contrasting cream to beige colored sapwood. There is a prominent knot which has "popped-out" of one back edge (lower photo), but this area will likely turn off as the blank is rounded. I see no cracks or other structural weaknesses. Aromatic red Cedar lot 141 $3.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 142 3-1/2 x 8-1/2 x 1-7/8" 1 lbs. This is a nice rectangular blank of Texas Eastern Red Cedar. It is essentially all heartwood with a strong salmon-pink color. This piece was cut well away from the pith of the log and contains no major cracks. The pith of a large side limb passes thru one edge (right side, lower photo) and does exhibit a small and tight pith crack. I see no other obvious flaws. Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 142 $5.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 143 6-1/2" x 8-1/4" x 4" 4 lbs. This is another nice rectangular bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar. It is primarily salmon-pink heartwood with some contrasting cream to beige colored sapwood on the back side. This blank was cut from very close to the pith of the log and a portion of the pith is included just below the annotated face (top photo). However, that pith is tight with no visible cracks. There are two knots (lower photo) that do contain minor (small and tight) cracks. If these do not turn off in your design, you should consider reinforcing them with CA glue as you turn. I see no other significant cracks or structural weakness in this piece. Sold Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 143 $15.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 148 8-1/2" x 9-1/2" x 2-3/4" 4 lbs. This is another very nice square bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar. This one also has the potential for a spectacular bowl due to the presence of complex crotch-grain related to nearby secondary limbs. There are two compression areas that may be very eye-catching in the sides of a finished bowl. The colors are primarily salmon-pink heartwood with some contrasting cream to beige colored sapwood on the back side. Most of that sapwood will turn off as the bowl is roughed-out. This blank was cut from very close to the pith of the log and half of that pith is present at the face. However, that pith appears to be tight with no cracking. However, that compression grain of the secondary limbs has resulted in two irregular cracks that radiate out from the center of the blank (top photo). Both cracks are thin and should be readily reinforced/filled with CA glue during turning. I see no other significant cracks or structural weakness in this piece. SOLD Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 148 $18.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 149 9" x 10" x 3" 6 lbs. This is another very nice square bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar. This one also has the potential for a spectacular bowl due to the presence of complex crotch-grain related to nearby secondary limbs. There are two compression areas that result in distinctive "feather figures" that radiate out from the center of the blank. These should result in eye-catching features in the sides of a finished bowl. The colors are primarily the salmon-pink of the Cedar heartwood with some contrasting cream to beige colored sapwood on the back and two sides. Most if not all of that sapwood will turn off as the bowl is roughed-out. This blank was cut from very close to the pith of the log and some of the pith present at the face, and the pith of both secondary limbs are present at depth within the blank. However, all of that pith appears to be tight with no significant cracking - with one exception: a single small pith-type crack is present in the upper face (center of lower edge, top photo). That crack is thin and readily reinforced/filled with CA glue before or during turning. I see no other significant cracks or structural weakness in this piece. Sold Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 149 $25.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 150 14" diameter x 3-1/2" deep 14-1/2 lbs. This is another very nice half-log, round-cut deep bowl blank cut from a crotch of aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar. This blank looks like it would be good for a approximately 13" wide and 3" deep salad bowl. The heartwood is a deep salmon pink color; the sapwood is a nicely contrasting cream to beige color. Note, this blank was sealed before I took the photos (my absentminded mistake) so the colors in that top photo are misleading. Honest - there are very nice colors below that bland surface. The blank was halved close to the pith but most of that pith was cut out. The only remaining portion appears to be one limb of the crotch, and that is tight and free of cracks. The overall diameter is greater than 14" but as you can see from the top photo, I suggest that the maximum bowl diameter may be only ~13" due to some cracking and possible decay in one outside area (in the crotch-gap, top photo). There are also several minor drying checks within the interior of the defined bowl circle on the top photo. I expect that these will be completely removed as the bowl is hollowed. I see no significant structural weakness in this piece. It is pretty much ready to be mounted on your lathe and turned. Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar lot 150 $35.00 click to enlarge This small Cedar bowl was recently turned from the same tree as the other pieces of cedar offered here. Additional examples of turnings from our local Texas woods are presented on Prairie's End Woodshop. click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Red Cedar lot 120 10" x 11" x 5" 11 lbs. This is another very nice, fairly deep half-log bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar. The heartwood is a beautiful salmon to dark red; the sapwood is a nicely contrasting white to cream color. It includes a major side limb and the complex grain patterns and colors are very attractive. Typical of Cedar, there are a number of juvenile branches that appear to extend outward from the heartwood into the adjacent sapwood - these will make for interesting patterns in any turned form. The log that yielded this half-log piece was cut thru the pith and some of that pith is included. However, the pith is tight and the blank exhibits no visible structural weakness. I did not round this into a bowl blank shape. It is intact such that you can cut it into smaller turning blanks - for goblets, pepper mills, pens, bowls or the like - if desired. Since initially photographed and listed, this blank has developed several small and shallow drying checks (cracks) in the outer sapwood. These checks extend thru the sapwood to the boundary with the heartwood, but do not penetrate the heartwood where exposed at the cut ends.  Also, the central pith of that distinctive side branch (visible on the cut face of the top photo) has developed a thin drying check.  It is about 1" deep at the exposed end-grain on the left side of the blank but looks like it is much less in the interior.  I cannot be certain about the depth of that check and if I am > wrong, it might cost you an inch or so of the thickness of the block (assuming that you are not prepared to reinforce and work with the check). Despite those features, I see no significant structural weakness in this piece. Aromatic red Cedar lot 120 $25.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Red Cedar lot 121 10-1/2" x 11" x 4" 9 lbs. This is another very nice half-log bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar. The heartwood is a beautiful salmon to dark red; the sapwood is a nicely contrasting white to cream color. It includes a major side limb and results in a very nice flowing figure at the cut surface with complex grain patterns and colors. Typical of Cedar, there are a number of juvenile branches that appear to extend outward from the heartwood into the adjacent sapwood - these will make for interesting patterns in any turned form. The log that yielded this half-log piece was cut thru the pith and the shallow portion of that pith is included at the cut surface. However, the pith is tight and the blank exhibits no visible structural weakness. I did not round this into a bowl blank shape but left it intact such that you can cut it into smaller turning blanks - for goblets, pepper mills, pens, bowls or the like - if desired. However, I did scribe a circle on the cut face so that you can see the extent of the largest (10") bowl form that is likely from this piece. Aromatic red Cedar lot 121 $25.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Red Cedar lot 122 10-1/2" x 11" x 4" 9 lbs. This is another very nice half-log bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar. The heartwood is a beautiful salmon to dark red; the sapwood is a nicely contrasting white to cream color. It includes a major side limb and results in a very nice flowing figure at the cut surface with complex grain patterns and colors. Typical of Cedar, there are a number of juvenile branches that appear to extend outward from the heartwood into the adjacent sapwood - these will make for interesting patterns in any turned form. The log that yielded this half-log piece was cut thru the pith and the shallow portion of that pith is included at the cut surface. However, the pith is tight and the blank exhibits no visible structural weakness. I did not round this into a bowl blank shape but left it intact such that you can cut it into smaller turning blanks - for goblets, pepper mills, pens, bowls or the like - if desired. However, I did scribe a circle on the cut face so that you can see the extent of the largest (10") bowl form that is likely from this piece. Sold Aromatic red Cedar lot 122 $25.00 click to enlarge click to enlarge Aromatic Purple Heart Cedar lot 151 11" diameter x 5" deep 9-3/4 lbs. This is another beautiful half-log bowl blank in aromatic Texas Eastern Red Cedar. This is the variety locally known as Purple Heart, with a gorgeous deep purple heartwood; the sapwood is a nicely contrasting cream to beige color. As is usual with Eastern Red Cedar, there are a number of juvenile branches that appear to extend outward from the heartwood into the adjacent sapwood - these will make for interesting patterns in the sides and bottom of a turned bowl. The pith was cut completely out of this half-log blank and it exhibits no visible structural weakness. It was roughly-rounded and flattened on the back to reduce shipping weight, to reveal some of the internal figure, and to make it ready to mount on your lathe and begin turning. Aromatic red Cedar lot 151 $30.00 Listing last updated 10 February 2010 Nothing here that suits your needs? Then send me an email at: l.stahl@maroon.com or a telephone call at: 281-392-5336 There is a good chance that I have more, either cut into blocks or in the rough log, so I may be able to meet your specific requirements. © 2008, Texas Woodcrafts