I have not used sassafras in a stripper, but it is worth checking out.

Another part of the sassafras tradition is it is considered good luck to have sassafrass incorporated into a boat. I do not know the origin of this belief, but at least it won't give you cancer.

Young sassafras leaves are quite tasty. They add a little spicy flavor to salad. I guess to avoid cancer you wouldn't want to make the whole salad with the leaves and eat it every day.

> A few people I work with are very interested in building stripper canoes.
> It is very difficult (and expensive) to get good western cedar here. I
> live about one mile from a small lumber mill. I was there today and the
> owner knows I build canoes/ kayaks.

> He asked me if I would be interested in using Sassafras for canoes. I told
> him I would check.

> He has about 800 board feet of very clear Sassafras for a reasonable
> price. The question I have is...has anyone used Sassafras or are there any
> wood experts out there who know wood properties and can tell me if it
> roughly equivalent to cedar?

> Normally, Sassafras around here does not get big enough, but this stuff is
> about 10 inches wide.