Latin Name: Taxodium distichum
Common Name(s): Cypress, Baldcypress
Sources: Southeastern United States
Characteristics | Color tends to be a light, yellowish brown. Sapwood is nearly white. Some boards can have scattered pockets of darker wood that have been attacked by fungi, which is sometimes called pecky cypress. |
Grain/ Texture | Straight grain and medium texture to coarse texture. Raw, unfinished wood surfaces have a greasy feel. |
Workability | Sharp cutters and light passes are recommended when working with Cypress to avoid tearout. Also, the wood has been reported by some sources to have a moderate dulling effect on cutting edges. Cypress has good gluing, nailing, finishing, and paint-holding properties. |
Uses | Exterior construction, docks, boatbuilding, interior trim, and veneer. |
Availability | Prices ought to be in the mid-range for domestic woods, with clear, knot-free boards for woodworking applications costing more than construction-grade lumber. |