How to Work With Red Cedar
- 1). Use common woodworking tools when you work with red cedar wood. Since it's a light-weight softwood with a straight grain, it's easy to cut, saw, plane, machine and sand. It resists splitting and splintering. It's also easy to drive nails into, as well as put screws in.
- 2). Use aluminum, stainless steel or double hot-dipped galvanized nails, screws and other fasteners on this type of wood. If you use iron, common steel or electroplated fasteners on cedar wood, they will cause insightly stains on it.
- 3). Fasten red cedar together with common glue or adhesives. It holds together well because of its lack of pitch and resin which can interfere with the bonding process.
- 4). Leave red cedar wood that's exposed to the elements unfinished to allow it to weather naturally. Or, you can finish it with an oil, or a water-resistant preservative. You also have the option of covering red cedar with a transparent stain, a semi-transparent stain, or a solid stain. Paints are also available.
Source...