hey all,

i've been reading for a little while, but have never posted before. my
background: had some good, tool-using role models as a kid. as an
adolescent, i did a lot of theatre stagecraft on a volunteer basis, and
later as a work-study position (stage carpenter) during my first two
years of college. knocking up stage flats, occasionally making simple
props. i was also an assistant woodworking instructor at a summer camp
around that time (think: teaching kids to make Snoopy clocks, routing
out "Our Happy Home" signs, etc). i moved to a more urban setting and
haven't had the space or time to think about any of that for like 8
years. now i'm in a house w/ yard & shed, and plan to make the most of
both.

on to the problem.

short version: the smell of this cedar wood i just purchased for indoor
use is overpowering. should i spray it with polyurethane/let it air
out/not worry about it?

long version: my first "real" project ever (ie: built to be seen
close-up and last more than 6 months) is a platform bed that i've
designed myself. i'm on an extremely tight budget. the visible wood
will be refinished salvage from an 1840's house, but i want new stock
for the structural elements. shopping for slats at the HD today, i
ended up buying 22 6ft cedar fence boards because they were less that a
quarter the price of the pine 1x4's i'd been thinking about, and half
the price of pegboard or MDF. they were stacked outside, and damp from
recent rain, but in good condition. on the drive home, the smell was
overwhelming. seriously. i like cedar fine, but even with the window
rolled down, it was *intense*. so now i'm not sure if i should let
them dry out for a day or two outside (HOT, but high humidity), inside
(cool, low humidity- A/C), spray them with poly, or just assume that
they'll mellow out on their own...

any guidance is very much appreciated, and i hope y'all won't mind if i
bug you from time to time with additional questions- i'm psyched to be
rediscovering this world!

thx,

-bean

wrote:
hey all,

i've been reading for a little while, but have never posted before. my
background: had some good, tool-using role models as a kid. as an
adolescent, i did a lot of theatre stagecraft on a volunteer basis, and
later as a work-study position (stage carpenter) during my first two
years of college. knocking up stage flats, occasionally making simple
props. i was also an assistant woodworking instructor at a summer camp
around that time (think: teaching kids to make Snoopy clocks, routing
out "Our Happy Home" signs, etc). i moved to a more urban setting and
haven't had the space or time to think about any of that for like 8
years. now i'm in a house w/ yard & shed, and plan to make the most of
both.

on to the problem.

short version: the smell of this cedar wood i just purchased for indoor
use is overpowering. should i spray it with polyurethane/let it air
out/not worry about it?

long version: my first "real" project ever (ie: built to be seen
close-up and last more than 6 months) is a platform bed that i've
designed myself. i'm on an extremely tight budget. the visible wood
will be refinished salvage from an 1840's house, but i want new stock
for the structural elements. shopping for slats at the HD today, i
ended up buying 22 6ft cedar fence boards because they were less that a
quarter the price of the pine 1x4's i'd been thinking about, and half
the price of pegboard or MDF. they were stacked outside, and damp from
recent rain, but in good condition. on the drive home, the smell was
overwhelming. seriously. i like cedar fine, but even with the window
rolled down, it was *intense*. so now i'm not sure if i should let
them dry out for a day or two outside (HOT, but high humidity), inside
(cool, low humidity- A/C), spray them with poly, or just assume that
they'll mellow out on their own...

any guidance is very much appreciated, and i hope y'all won't mind if i
bug you from time to time with additional questions- i'm psyched to be
rediscovering this world!

thx,

-bean

I would let them dry out first...outside where its hot and not wet will
be faster...but watch out for warping. You might even want to sticker
'em. Then bring them in for a couple of days (at least) before you
begin to work on them. The smell should deminish greatly once they are
dry however if the smell is still objectionable finish them with a spit
coat of varnish once the slats are cut, that should help too.

Good luck.

Al Morgan

wrote:
I would let them dry out first...outside where its hot and not wet will
be faster...but watch out for warping. You might even want to sticker
'em. Then bring them in for a couple of days (at least) before you
begin to work on them. The smell should deminish greatly once they are
dry however if the smell is still objectionable finish them with a spit
coat of varnish once the slats are cut, that should help too.

Good luck.

Al Morgan

Good advice - I concur.
I'd let them dry as long as possible before working them.
Good luck,
Andy