Eastern vs. Western Redcedar for Epoxy River Tables

Comparing Two Distinct Softwoods for Epoxy Tabletops

Despite sharing the common name cedar, Eastern redcedar and Western redcedar belong to completely different botanical genera. When building an epoxy river table or wood tabletop, these two species exhibit distinctly different mechanical traits, densities, and movement patterns. Reliable figures from the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-282) provide a clear picture of how each behaves under load, across changing seasons, and beneath an epoxy pour.

Figures from the USDA Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-282), Tables 4-1, 4-3, 5-3b, 13-5 and 14-1. Clear, straight-grained specimens; real slabs vary.

Property	Eastern redcedar	Western redcedar
Specific gravity (12% MC)	0.47	0.32
Side hardness, lbf (12% MC)	—	350
Modulus of rupture, lbf/in² (12% MC)	8,800	7,500
Modulus of elasticity, million lbf/in² (12% MC)	0.88	1.11
Compression perpendicular to grain, lbf/in² (12% MC)	920	460
Radial shrinkage, green to ovendry (%)	3.1	2.4
Tangential shrinkage, green to ovendry (%)	4.7	5.0
Volumetric shrinkage, green to ovendry (%)	7.8	6.8
Dimensional change coefficient, tangential (per 1% MC)	0.00162	0.00234
Dimensional change coefficient, radial (per 1% MC)	0.00106	0.00111
Green MC of heartwood (%)	33	58
Tangential/radial shrinkage ratio (calculated)	1.5	2.1
Heartwood decay resistance (Table 14-1)	Resistant	Resistant

Density and Surface Dent Resistance

Weight and surface resistance are major considerations for functional dining tables, desks, and consoles. Eastern redcedar is substantially denser than Western redcedar. At 12% moisture content, Eastern redcedar holds a specific gravity of 0.47, while Western redcedar measures only 0.32. This density gap shows clearly in how each timber resists crushing forces.

Compression perpendicular to the grain reflects how well a tabletop withstands localized pressure, such as heavy table legs, clamping bolts, or concentrated objects. Eastern redcedar reaches 920 lbf/in² in compression perpendicular to grain at 12% moisture content. By comparison, Western redcedar achieves 460 lbf/in²—exactly half the resistance. In side hardness, Western redcedar tests at 350 lbf at 12% moisture content (and 260 lbf green). While side hardness for Eastern redcedar is not reported at 12% moisture content, its green hardness is 650 lbf. Because Eastern redcedar possesses significantly higher density and crush values, it offers superior resistance to dents and surface dings during daily use.

Stiffness and Strength for Overhangs and Spans

Tabletops must resist sagging across spans and support overhangs without excessive deflection. Here, the comparison presents an interesting contrast between bending strength and elastic stiffness.

Eastern redcedar provides greater ultimate bending strength, with a modulus of rupture (MOR) of 8,800 lbf/in² at 12% moisture content, compared to 7,500 lbf/in² for Western redcedar. However, Western redcedar exhibits superior stiffness. Its modulus of elasticity (MOE) at 12% moisture content is 1.11 million lbf/in², whereas Eastern redcedar rates at 0.88 million lbf/in². In green conditions, Western redcedar also leads in stiffness at 0.94 million lbf/in² versus 0.65 million lbf/in² for Eastern redcedar. When designing unsupported spans or long overhangs, Western redcedar deflects less under load despite its lighter weight, though Eastern redcedar tolerates higher maximum stresses before structural failure.

Seasonal Movement, Shrinkage, and Moisture

Wood movement creates stress along the epoxy-to-wood bondline. Stable species with low shrinkage coefficients place less shear strain on resin interfaces during relative humidity swings.

Looking at total shrinkage from green to ovendry conditions, Western redcedar exhibits lower radial shrinkage (2.4%) than Eastern redcedar (3.1%). Tangential shrinkage is very similar: 4.7% for Eastern redcedar and 5.0% for Western redcedar. Volumetric shrinkage measures 7.8% for Eastern redcedar and 6.8% for Western redcedar.

However, the ratio of tangential to radial shrinkage (T/R ratio) favors Eastern redcedar. With a T/R ratio of 1.5, Eastern redcedar dries with minimal distortion. Western redcedar has a T/R ratio of 2.1, indicating a wider divergence between radial and tangential shrinkage that can increase cupping tendencies across plain-sawn slabs. Furthermore, Eastern redcedar displays lower dimensional change coefficients: 0.00106 radial and 0.00162 tangential per 1% change in moisture content, compared to 0.00111 radial and 0.00234 tangential for Western redcedar.

Initial moisture levels also differ substantially. Heartwood green moisture content is 33% for Eastern redcedar and 58% for Western redcedar. Slabs must be thoroughly dried and acclimated before pouring epoxy, following the resin manufacturer data sheet to ensure a secure bond.

Decay Resistance

Both species perform exceptionally well against biological degradation. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory rates the heartwood of both Eastern redcedar and Western redcedar as Resistant to decay, making either species a durable candidate for tables exposed to variable environments.

Which to Pick When

• Choose Eastern redcedar when dent resistance, concentrated load resistance, and dimensional stability across tangential grain lines are critical. Its 920 lbf/in² compression perpendicular to grain and low tangential movement coefficient make it better suited for high-contact surfaces and heavy wear.
• Choose Western redcedar when tabletop weight and span stiffness are the primary design priorities. Its higher modulus of elasticity (1.11 million lbf/in²) limits deflection across long spans, and its low specific gravity (0.32) produces large, easy-to-handle tabletops, provided the surface is protected from sharp impacts.

Sources

• USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-282, 2021)

Published October 28, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.

Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.