Cedar 1x2s: rip or buy?

[bmuir]

I am planning on building a four-level plant stand that is made from cedar 1x2s. I do not have a planer or a jointer. So...

Do I look for straight 1x2s and kiss the edges with the saw blade?

or Do I buy 1x6s and rip 1x2s out of them?

If I do the latter, will ripping release stresses in the cedar boards that will twist the new 1x2s?

As always, thanks for the help.

Bill

[ejs1097]

I haven't ripped cedar that thin yet but have had no problem with what i have ripped. The cedar I've worked with has stayed pretty stable before and after milling.

That said, good luck finding it. The best I can do is get S3S cedar. The lumber mill said they don't know where to find S4S cedar, you can only buy it like that.

I've had to hold off a few projects I wanted to do with cedar and plans call for S4S. Thanks to drumpriest, I'm now the new owner of a AP1300 and plan to do those chairs and planters this spring.

[LCHIEN]

for my cedar garden projects I simply buy dog-eared western red cedar fence pickets.
They are 5.5"w, ~5/8" thick and 6' long, rough cut. I like the rustic look of the rough cut faces. I get them for $2 apiece at lowes and HD
and pretty much select every board, I pick the straight and relatively clear ones.
You lose about an inch off the ends due to the dog-ears.
They're like 1x6es except a little thinner.

if each board represents about 2 Bd-ft then you get it for $1/bd-ft.
but there'll be some waste due to inevitable knots and ocassional bad spots.

I'll face plane some and glue them up 3-thick with waterproof glue to make boards where I need 2x4-sized stuff like legs.