Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 >
Topic Options
#189887 - 12/04/09 12:17 PM Survival uses of cedar?
dweste Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 02/16/08
Posts: 2463
Loc: Central California
I guess cedar smells good and, like any wood, you can burn it for light and heat.

If survival was at issue, what other uses are there for cedar?

Top
#189888 - 12/04/09 01:36 PM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: dweste]
Am_Fear_Liath_Mor Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/03/07
Posts: 3078

Top
#189891 - 12/04/09 02:13 PM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: Am_Fear_Liath_Mor]
Lono Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 10/19/06
Posts: 1013
Loc: Pacific NW, USA
Where to begin - I'll quote Hilary Stewart:

All parts of the cedar tree had many uses. From the wood, skilled men made ocean-going canoes, massive post-and-beam houses, monumental carved poles that declared history, rights and lineage, and powerful dance masks. Women dextrously wove the inner bark into mats and baskets, plied it into cordage and netting or processed it into soft, warm, water-repellent clothing. They also made the strong withes into heavy-duty rope and wove the roots into watertight baskets.

Among numerous other uses, a cedar split placed above your doorway will keep away evil spirits. And a cedar plank is my preferred way to cook salmon. A few years back I would make cedar planks for Christmas gifts, then they became all the fashion, someone started making them cheaper commercially - Mom gave me a commecial cedar plank one birthday, made in China for chrissakes, sealed with some nasty resin, and it almost broke my spirit. Took it back to Target...

Legend is you can always find a dry space beneath a cedar to sleep - and that works.

Such a healthy history of the cedar in the Pacific Northwest, strong and deep enough even for a haole like me to tap into.

Top
#189892 - 12/04/09 02:14 PM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: Am_Fear_Liath_Mor]
Tarzan Offline
Member

Registered: 02/02/08
Posts: 146
Loc: Washington
cedar bark was pounded and woven into clothes by PacNW Natives, I see no reason why it could not be used for its fibers in any application you could employ it; cordage, Clothing.
Cedar boughs burn particularly fast, smoky, and hot so they would be useful signaling for assistance.
Cedar also appears to be high in tannin, judging by the way old growth stands color creekwater. The uses of tannic acid are numerous- there are astringent qualities, it has also been employed in the curing of hides. That's all off the top of my head.


Edited by Tarzan (12/04/09 02:15 PM)

Top
#189894 - 12/04/09 02:23 PM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: dweste]
Lon Offline
Member

Registered: 11/14/08
Posts: 115
Loc: middle Tennessee
I have yet to have any planks available to try it myself... but, I hear that Cedar is excellent for making raised garden beds.
It is supposed to be very resistant to rot; thus, making a great organic alternative, to keep chemical-treated timbers/planks out of the garden.

Top
#189914 - 12/04/09 04:56 PM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: Lon]
Blast Offline
INTERCEPTOR
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 07/15/02
Posts: 3760
Loc: TX
Quote:
I hear that Cedar is excellent for making raised garden beds.


I can vouch for that. The garden boxes I made from cedar fence planks are a year old and still look great. These planks came from 8+ year old fences knocked down by hurrcane Ike.

-Blast
_________________________
Foraging Texas
Medicine Man Plant Co.
DrMerriwether on YouTube
Radio Call Sign: KI5BOG
*As an Amazon Influencer, I may earn a sales commission on Amazon links in my posts.

Top
#189919 - 12/04/09 05:19 PM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: Blast]
benjammin Offline
Rapscallion
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/06/04
Posts: 4020
Loc: Anchorage AK
Cedar splits along the grain fairly completely, so making cedar rail fence is pretty common. I make cedar walking sticks because when dry they are very light for their dimension and longitudinally stronger than most other local coniferous species.

Dry cedar makes a most excellent tinder/kindling for building fire. It burns very fast, ignites very easily, and produces good flame.

Cedar has some antiseptic properties, and the smoke is a great fumigant. Cedar planks added to containers ward off moths and other household bugs.
_________________________
The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.
-- Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

Top
#189924 - 12/04/09 05:48 PM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: benjammin]
Todd W Offline
Product Tester
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 11/14/04
Posts: 1928
Loc: Mountains of CA
Cedar Shake Roofs.

I have a pallet of the stuff I use for kindling, found on my property. No telling how many years old it is but after letting it dry summer it's awesome wood! Splits almost perfectly for tiny splinters of kindling, and burns fast and decently hot enough smile

_________________________
Self Sufficient Home - Our journey to self sufficiency.

Top
#189974 - 12/05/09 05:36 AM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: dweste]
wildman800 Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 11/09/06
Posts: 2846
Loc: La-USA
Cedar boughs make good insulation and comfortable bedding. The boughs are quite good for making wind breaks (basket weaving) and are good for roofing an emergency shelter/lean-to/wickiup.
_________________________
QMC, USCG (Ret)
The best luck is what you make yourself!

Top
#189978 - 12/05/09 06:07 AM Re: Survival uses of cedar? [Re: wildman800]
dweste Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 02/16/08
Posts: 2463
Loc: Central California
Is any part of cedar good to eat?

Top
Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 >



Moderator:  MartinFocazio, Tyber 
April
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
Who's Online
0 registered (), 195 Guests and 35 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
GallenR, Jeebo, NicholasMarshall, Yadav, BenFoakes
5367 Registered Users
Newest Posts
People Are Not Paying Attention
by Jeanette_Isabelle
Today at 12:03 AM
USCG rescue fishermen frm deserted island
by brandtb
Yesterday at 11:35 PM
Silver
by brandtb
04/16/24 10:32 PM
EDC Reduction
by Jeanette_Isabelle
04/16/24 03:13 PM
New York Earthquake
by chaosmagnet
04/09/24 12:27 PM
Bad review of a great backpack..
by Herman30
04/08/24 08:16 AM
Our adorable little earthquake
by Phaedrus
04/06/24 02:42 AM
Amanda Nenigar found dead
by Phaedrus
04/05/24 04:39 AM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.