I fell heir to about 60 board feet of rough lumber which was supposed to be walnut, but it looks like cedar to me . How do you tell the difference between cedar and walnut Big George

-- George Wilson (cwwhtw@aol.com), December 11, 2001

Answers

I know this sounds obvious....but does it smell like cedar? Cedar has variations of cream color to red. Walnut is darker with a finer grain. Cedar is very light in weight compared to the Walnut. Of course you might not have the two to compare. This is the best my hubby and I could come up with. Hope that it turns out to be what you wanted it to be.

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), December 11, 2001.

take a knife and cut a shaving off one edge. If walnut will be dark brown, if cedar it will be a reddish color and probably smell like cedar, walnut has no really describable smell.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), December 11, 2001.

During my weekly check-in with my parents, I asked my father this question (he makes furniture); he said black walnut will be very dark with "cordova brown" and have a very fine grain, cedar will be blonde with red. Hope this helps.

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), December 11, 2001.

Unfinished cedar will ABSOLUTELY emit a smell- I have a cedar chest that was my grandfathers and it smeel (oh so nice) when opened revealing the unfinished interior. Might it be cherry? Cedar is gerneally much lighter in color than walnut- pink and cream versus ... well... walnut.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), December 11, 2001.

You should be able to get a book from your library (under carpentry?) that will have photos of different woods and their grain variations. I have one called Wood Furniture, by James E. Brumbaugh.

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), December 12, 2001.

Cedar is soft enough to dent with a good rap from your knuckle, walnut is much harder.

-- Don Wood (planeticket99@yahoo.com), December 13, 2001.