> in searching for local sources for cedar, I found a local fence supplier
> that is willing to part with 1x4 white cedar very cheap...most of this
> material is flat sawn so that if I slice a 1/4" strip from the side
> my strips will all show the end grain. Should I slice a 1/2 strip and turn
> it sideways and then cut two 1/4" strips so I end up with 1/4 x 1/2
> strips? Based on the collective experience here, should I put up with the
> additional waste to get the correct grain orientation ? Or is it not that
> important ?

If the wood is very cheap then your worries about waste should be minimal. Go for the best grain orientation.

Ideally you would want the final strips to have a grain pattern with the growth rings roughly parallel to the wide side. If you can obtain that by ripping and resawing your stock, then do so.

I'd go with wider strips that 1/2 inch because I think it is faster to put on fewer and slightly wider strips. Putting a bead and cove edge on such narrow strips removes a lot of that strip! If you are going with square edged strips, though, the narrower ones make a lot of sense. They fit a bit better as you apply them, and you probably won't need to bevel the edges as you go, which may speed things up. On the other hand, if you DO need to work on one, they are more difficult to get a hold of and work on.

If the grain in the original 1x4s is suitable, consider ripping a couple of 1 inch strips off of each board. You'll be left with a piece that about 1-1/4 inches wide. You can to make a few wide strips for use in some of the flatter areas, say near the middle of the deck or hull, or, you can rip this into another 1 inch piece, with some waste.

Convert those 1 inch pieces to 1/4 by 1 inch strips. If you have a narrow kerf circular saw blade, or rip these on a band saw, you might be able to get three 3/16 thick strips, and have almost no waste. If you stick with 1/4 inch strips you'll have some long, scrawny waste which may be 1/8 inch thick, or thinner. Don't throw these out as they are quite useful for other jobs.

Paul G. Jacobson