Cedar Smell ... how retain on finished bowls?

[Tom Hartranft]

I just got some eastern red cedar and am turning it now ... very pleasant aroma.

What finish might I apply to cedar bowls that enables maximum cedar aroma to anyone who picks up and handles the bowl while still enhancing the figured wood?


Tom

[Scott Hackler]

Short of some sort of Cedar Oil, its not gonna happen. Any of the usual oils or poly finishes will seal the wood and seal the smell with it. On the flip side, once a red cedar bowl sits around for a few months the smell will start to disappear until finally to the point of not much smell at all. I have a red cedar nested set that I cored over a year ago and the smell was so strong in the shop I couldn't spend time out there until the shavings were removed. Now, the bowls don't have much smell at all.

[Tom Hartranft]

Thanks for sharing your experience Scott. I expected the aroma wouldn't last long even if no finish is applied. I just completed one bowl and left it unfinished for now. Undecided on what finish to apply; my usual is Mahoney's Oil.

The cedar turned and sanded very nicely. Couple of photos added below without any finish applied; I do like the eastern red cedar colored wood figure.

I think I'll put the turning shavings into some sachets to give along with the red cedar bowls so the gift recipients will at least be able to get a wif of the cedar aroma. Will put the sachets into ziplock sandwich bags to prolong the aroma.

Tom

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/tjh_020/1311%20Cedar%20Bowl/IMG_3169Small_zpsb381c459.jpg (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/tjh_020/media/1311%20Cedar%20Bowl/IMG_3169Small_zpsb381c459.jpg.html)

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/tjh_020/1311%20Cedar%20Bowl/IMG_3167Small_zps77f66e1c.jpg (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/tjh_020/media/1311%20Cedar%20Bowl/IMG_3167Small_zps77f66e1c.jpg.html)

http://i482.photobucket.com/albums/rr183/tjh_020/1311%20Cedar%20Bowl/IMG_3168Small_zps22733a50.jpg (http://s482.photobucket.com/user/tjh_020/media/1311%20Cedar%20Bowl/IMG_3168Small_zps22733a50.jpg.html)

[Sid Matheny]

That is sure some wonderful looking cedar! I love cedar but it chokes me to death.

Sid

[charlie knighton]

in the past, they use to turn foot long cedar sticks about 1 inch to 2 inches wide, no finish, just wet the cedar to bring the smell out, put in drawers or hang in closet

[Joe Meirhaeghe]

Just a little side note. Cedar dust is a known carcinogen. So please be sure to use some sort of dust mask or respirator when sanding it.

[Reed Gray]

With cedar lined chests, no sealer or finish at all, and every once in a while, hit it with fine sand paper. It keeps bugs away for a reason....

robo hippy

[robert baccus]

Might leave the bottom unfinished and put some cedar oil on it annualy. Several catalogs sell the stuff.

[Pat Scott]

I have a Cedar bowl that I made probably 8+ years ago. I forget what kind of finish I put on it (some kind of oil), but just now when I stuck my nose up to it and sniffed I can still faintly detect the cedar smell. You were probably looking to retain a stronger smell, but it was nice to know the smell is still there - however slight it is.

In my limited experience with Cedar, any oil type finish that you put on it will darken the wood significantly. You might want to try some Mahoney's Oil on a scrap piece first to be sure you like the result.

[Tim Browne]

Leave most of the bottom unfinished to retain the smell. To renew the faded fragrance, about once a year or so, hit the unfinished area with a light sanding.