Cedar vs SPF
Natural Material · grade comparison
Cedar and SPF are both natural material grades. Cedar is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) against 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) for SPF, about 150% more. Cedar is lighter (0.37 g/cm³ vs 0.42 g/cm³ for SPF) and SPF is stiffer (9.7 GPa vs 7.7 GPa). On the shop floor, SPF sits in a lower cost tier (budget, $) than Cedar (premium, $$$).
CedarChoose it when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint.
SPFChoose it when cost is the deciding factor.
Cedar vs SPF: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all natural material grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Same in both: Poisson's Ratio 0.37 · Elongation at Break 1% · Fracture Toughness (K_IC) 0.4 MPa·√m0.36 ksi·√in
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Porosity
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Same in both: Specific Heat Capacity 1,600 J/kg·K0.38 BTU/lb·°F · Max Service Temperature (continuous) 65°C149 °F · Min Service Temperature -60°C-76 °F
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric Strength
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Machinability
Same in both: Polishability 45 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Same in both: Embodied Energy (primary production) 9 MJ/kg3,654 BTU/lb · Typical Recycled Content 0%
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Same in both: Thermal Diffusivity 0.2 mm²/s · Thermal Shock Resistance Index 0
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every natural material grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | Cedar | SPF |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$ Premium | $ Budget |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
Cedar vs SPF — frequently asked
Is Cedar stronger than SPF?
Yes. Cedar has a typical tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) against 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) for SPF — about 150% more.
Which is cheaper, Cedar or SPF?
SPF is the lower-cost material: it sits in the budget tier ($) while Cedar is premium ($$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Which is easier to machine, Cedar or SPF?
SPF, by a small margin. Both rate excellent for machinability — 95/100 against 90/100 for Cedar.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in Cedar and SPF side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.