making a stock from cedar

[doc gordon]

I want to make a,light stock for a .243 . I would like to use "red heart " cedar , I have some 30 years dried.should I resaw and laminate or would it be o.k. as is ?

 

[jscandale]

It'll probably be the best smelling stock on the line and keep the moths away too.

JS

 

[tinkerer]

I have to say I never heard of a cedar stock. I wonder about dimensional stability as I believe its called a soft wood.

I do know that maple is a good stock material and pretty light. Call Joel Russo and ask him, he should know.

Larry
Tinkerer

 

[firearmdoc1]

I used to use cedar when I was messing around with making my own fishing lures.I can tell you that it is very soft, and very easy to work.Past that I have no experience with it, although I'm not sure it would be good for a stock unless you laminated it with something else.

 

[Preacher]

I have a few of them laminated with CF, and they are a dent just waiting to happen...
Looks nice, and smells good, but don't drop it 'O)

 

[doc gordon]

thanks,i was thinking same as to softwood.

 

[katokoch]

I have a few of them laminated with CF, and they are a dent just waiting to happen...
Looks nice, and smells good, but don't drop it 'O)

Yep, it's very easy wood to dent. I've made a few with spanish cedar and red cedar and it's good for a benchrest stock (especially laminated with carbon fiber for added strength) but I would not choose it for a stock that will go afield because of how soft it is.

It does look pretty nice and your shop will smell GREAT too!