I was at the local lumber yard looking for non-finger-jointed trim for exterior use. They told me they’ve been selling finger-jointed polonia (they think it’s a kind of bamboo) instead of pine and have gotten very positive feedback.
I’ve never heard of it before, but I’m willing to give it a try… especially if anyone can recommend it.
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Not even close to bamboo, it's more like Balsa. Paulownia is similar to Catalpa. Open grain , rot resistant, soft and resistant to fire.
I've used it in lutherie, but not for structural building.
Depending on cost, it may be a good thing. It grows rapidly, and has a penchant for less than ideal soils.
EDit for clarity
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Edited 2/7/2009 7:34 pm ET by Sphere
OK. "Paulownia" it is.
So, no one has ever used it???
(shameless self-bump)
What yard is carrying it? Westfield?
I've heard of it, but haven't used it. Its supposed to be fairly light and strong.
Yup. Westfield Lumber. They're very convenient for a lot of the smaller jobs that I do in Westfield.
They don't have quite the selection of the larger yards, but they're good folks... helpful and friendly.
I looked into it once myself. Websites show it being used for handrails, trim, siding, cabinets, all sorts of stuff. Rot resistant, holds screws, machines well, lightweight. Fabulous. But when you ask about it all you get is a blank stare.It's used for surfboards I know. Carving and musical instruments. I guess it's really soft as someone else said. Is that soft like pine, or soft like cheese? Who knows until you can hold a piece in your hand.Good luck, John
Soft like Obeche, ya know the oval handrails you often see for secondary basement stairs? Same color too. Smells HORRID when sawn and sanding too.
That name comes from some Russian Princess or daugter of a czar, hence it's AKA "Princess Tree".Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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It was a highly prized wood for export to Japan. 30 Years ago there was a big market and many planted lots of trees. Market dried up.
Yup. For Dowry chests..its hardly flammable. I was buying 20 yrs ago and was having issues with it being jacked up.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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When I lived outside of Charlottesville, up in the hills, there were lots of fallen down princess trees. Folks had planted them because the Japanese were buying for shoe soles. Now, they're trash trees.I never noticed much rot resistance.http://www.tvwsolar.com
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The wood is so soft I cut one down with a sharp mattack one time.In a 12" dia. tree the growth rings were about an inch apart. Works very similair to Buckeye. Big ones were being ripped off from New River National park and even city parks in Philadelphia. Wood is prized for Shinto boxes in Japan. Beautiful tree with some of the biggest leaves of an american tree when they first start out and have fragarant purple blossoms much like wisteria.