Source for Hinoki wood?

[ear3]

Considering a commission for a bench, but client has specified Japanese Hinoki wood.  Does anyone know of any Japanese lumber sources in and around New York city?

Failing that, what might be a suitable substitute -- maybe cypress (Hinoki is a species of Cypress)?

 

[peter halle]

In searching the internet for a possible answer for you according to this link you might want to search for Port Orford Cedar.

http://www.bearcreeklumber.com/species/portorcedar.html

Peter

 

[HarveyWildes]

I love Port Orford Cedar - the best smelling wood that I've ever run into, although lignum vitae gives it a run.  It is listed as vulnerable, so it can be hard to find.  It has a limited range on the west coast and is under attack by a disease.  It's not cheap.  To preserve the smell (as in saunas, etc.), don't finish it.  There was a hardwood supplier in Garfield CO that had a good supply 10-15 years ago, but I'm not sure if they are still in business.  I know someone who ordered enough to panel a bath about 10 years ago also.  I would imagine that you can get it somewhere if there are still diseased trees being logged.

I wonder if Hinoki is a related species, a name for several related species, or just the Japanese name for Port Orford Cedar?  I've not found any reference to Port Orford Cedar growing in Japan.

 

[ear3]

Yeah, I've just been reading as well about it being used as a substitute, and I've found a source for it fairly near me.  It's biological name shows it to be in the same cypress family as Hinoki (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, vs. Chamaecyparis obtusa, for Hinoki).  Apparently the grain structure is almost identical, but ithe smell doesn't quite match the citrus of real Hinoki. 

Hinoki appears to be super scarce outside of Japan, and the prices I've seen quoted on international sites for shipping abroad are obscene.

I love Port Orford Cedar - the best smelling wood that I've ever run into, although lignum vitae gives it a run.  It is listed as vulnerable, so it can be hard to find.  It has a limited range on the west coast and is under attack by a disease.  It's not cheap.  To preserve the smell (as in saunas, etc.), don't finish it.  There was a hardwood supplier in Garfield CO that had a good supply 10-15 years ago, but I'm not sure if they are still in business.  I know someone who ordered enough to panel a bath about 10 years ago also.  I would imagine that you can get it somewhere if there are still diseased trees being logged.

I wonder if Hinoki is a related species, a name for several related species, or just the Japanese name for Port Orford Cedar?  I've not found any reference to Port Orford Cedar growing in Japan.