I CHANCED TO DROP BY my friend Gordon Plume's house today. Gordon is a master woodworker of national renown, with a business that makes incredible wood working projects for the likes of Bill Gates, Disneyland, you name it. his complex projects are found all over the nation- but today I drove by his house and saw the garage door to his home workshop open. Found him playing hooky on this lovely fall day working on a boat that he had designed. Darn- I got so busy talking with him I forgot to take a picture of his shop and boat. He gave me a piece of one of the truly great woods of the west coast and the world, Port Orford Cedar.
Port Orford Cedar is not really a cedar, but a member of the cyprus family. It is closely related to another great, but far more available wood, Alaska or Yellow Cedar.
Port Orford is widely known for its use in boat building. Strength, light weight, resistance to rot and extreme stability enhance it's reputation. It is also a grand tonewood for instruments. I was quite thrilled when Gordon gave me this piece. When sawn it should make tops for two tenors and two concerts. I was quite excited to get it and now have a really difficult decision to make at my next tenor build. I could make the soundboard from Port Orford Cedar, Rocky Mountain Juniper or Pacific Yew, all woods that I have never used before but are waiting for their turn in the workshop. Or I could use Englemann or Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar, or Redwood, all of which I also have waiting on the shop shelves.
I delightful problem to have! Gordon, thanks to adding to my choices.
Port Orford is widely known for its use in boat building. Strength, light weight, resistance to rot and extreme stability enhance it's reputation. It is also a grand tonewood for instruments. I was quite thrilled when Gordon gave me this piece. When sawn it should make tops for two tenors and two concerts. I was quite excited to get it and now have a really difficult decision to make at my next tenor build. I could make the soundboard from Port Orford Cedar, Rocky Mountain Juniper or Pacific Yew, all woods that I have never used before but are waiting for their turn in the workshop. Or I could use Englemann or Sitka Spruce, Western Red Cedar, or Redwood, all of which I also have waiting on the shop shelves.
I delightful problem to have! Gordon, thanks to adding to my choices.
