The above quote is from a recent thread about saw mills. In response to this request I felt I should start the thread.

For those who don't know of me I grow, mill and sell Paulownia. I use a very basic band saw mill to process the timber. I had no experience in any aspect of the above processes when I started and have learnt to farm, mill and to some extent market the timber the hard way. I do not hold my self up to be an expert but if any one wants to ask me questions I will answer them with complete honesty even if the best I can do is 'I don't know'

I have a web site - www.paulownia-timber-sales.com.au - which contains some information about myself and has some links to independant sites about Paulownia. I am a one fingered typist and responding to threads is a tedious task so don't expect long answers if the question get too complex.

I have done my bit and started the thread. Now its up to the members.

I am a complete novice. Now, that I have made that confession ( Well, the Pope is in town, isn't he. )

From what I have seen of Paulowina it is very light in weight, somewhere between Balsa and Pine. Where do you see it filling its niche in the wood working area?

I believe it has a role to play because of its unique weight, but what areas do you think it could make a major impact?

Star,

You're right about the light weight, but it does have an interesting grain, rather ring-porous in appearance. My understanding is that it's one of the most prized woods in Japan, and is used for chests and musical instruments such as the koto. Its great utility, I believe, is that it's very stable in the face of Japan's high humidity, certainly important for a stringed instrument, but also because chest drawers can be made very tight fitting and not bind in the summer.

All this is subject to correction by anyone more knowledgeable.

The biggest weakness of Paulownia is that it is soft timber. Its density is similar to western red cedar. Its main draw back to large scale use here in Aust at present is that it unknown and untested. Another major problem is that at present there is not a large supply of it for any major user to take it on and use it.

It has most of the qualities of WRC and can be used for the manufacture of doors, window frames and cladding. It is also excelent for blinds and lourved shutter panels. It would be great for some furniture applications especially in hospitals where moving furniture for cleaning purposes is important. It is great for internal wall panelling as, unlike pine, it does not yellow with age if it is processed properly.

There are other large scale usages for it one being using it for the core of panels which are the veneered with hard wood to produce lightweight solid timber hardwood panels for table tops and other furniture.

I could go on with other uses but until manfacturers can obtain commercial quantities of quality timber here in Aust it will remain a boutique timber used buy a few people for small scale production .

If you check out my web site there are some links which give more information about Paulownia and its uses. Paulownia is a big subject and I can not do justice to it and keep the post brief. If you need more information add another post and I'll do my best to reply specifically to it.


Frank I believe you are correct about the use of Paulownia in Japan.

John

Some of the investment sites claim that Australia is exporting thousands (?) of tonnes of the stuff, direct to China and Japan - the tree is a native of China & was introduced to Japan 5-600 years ago, and like most things the Japanese adopt from the Chinese, now claim as their own. If these big plantation growers have locked themselves into long term contracts, that would be one reason for nothing much on the local market. Of course it could all be hot air, trying to get investors to part with their money - remember Jojoba berries, the answer to just about everything, going to replace petrol etc?

In a discussion a couple of years ago, it was claimed that the major Australian use for the timber had been in framing caravans, but I think they have changed to aluminium extrusions now.

I have also seen mention of it being used to make the surrounds of incense burners for temples and the outside of domestic fire pits (can't remember the correct name), so it seems to be believed by the Japanese to be relatively fire resistant, as well as water proof. Whitewood could be the man in position to confirm the fire resistance - it may just char rather than bursting into flames.

Bsrlee,

Yes the Financial Sector did flood the press with Managed Investment Schemes in Paulownia. One of the biggest was Qld. Paulownia Forests. The only thing is they went belly up and their timber has yet to come on the market. My understanding of their hype was that they intended to sell huge quanties to o/s markets on behalf of the investors.

From other hype I have read Paulownia rates a timber suitable for coring fire doors. This is because it requires a lvery high amount of heat to ignite. However I find it excellent kindling for my wood heater as a direct flame provides that heat and once ignited it burns very well as it is extremly dry.

It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks. The caravan industry has not had a supply of Paulownia in the past and if the truth be known does not have it now. (Ex Aust plantations.) I think their motto is if it works don't fix it.

Are the reported growth rates - 1 cubic metre log from an 8-10 year old tree true?
Are you finding a good repeatable market for your timber?

I'll give you a break and come back with more later ( a fellow single finger typist)

__________________
I love my Lucas!!

...just ask me!

Allan.

I have a plank here that I aquired at the GTG at Dai Sensei's. Haven't decided what to do with it yet.
It is very light with an interesting enoug, but pale, grain. Seems to be quite strong considering its density.Reputedly works well.

Ref: Large commercial plantations. Yep, not surprised, too good to be true.

I -may- have a use for some in different sizes, but I have 2 tonnes of 'reject' hardwood to get stuck into. I'll probably look at ordering a little bit in the spring - some 1-by and some 2-by stock - a Tansu would be fun, and I have a possible market for pattens (over shoes) for re-enactors. Don't rely on me for an order tho'.

Sigidi,

At this hour of the night I can't get my head around the required maths to work out what size log you need to make a cubic metre. There were some very large trees grown under ideal conditions i.e. with excellent soil, irrigation, solubile fertiliser and large spacings. Trees 60 cm diameter and 6 metres high have been recorded but these are the exceplions.
The industry 10 years ago was driven by the people selling the plants. Buyers were encouraged to plant on 4 x 4 metre grids when subsequent experience proved that 6 x 7 for unirrigated plantations produced better trees and results.
The market for Paulownia is small at present for the reasons given in my earlier post. I have 1 repeat customer and a strip kayak builder who has built 2 from my timber. There is a shutter manfacturer who has purchased several large orders from my wholesaler. I have sold timber to a number of people to build hallow surfboards.

The timber you have probably came from my plantation. I intended to go to the gathering but couldn't make it. In the end I left some very rough samples with Dai Sensei to give to any one who was interested in the timber. Your summation of it is quite accurate. Hope you find some use for it. Use sharp tools when you do.

Whitewood.

The timber you gave to Neil that Artme got some of was indeed what you had given him.

I had heard about Paulowina, in fact a small plantation was established only two hundred meters from my place but i think they went into liquidation.

The timber you gave to Neil was very welcome and we all had a great discussion about it because many, myself included had not actually seen it before. hence the reason for me asking about its possible uses because of its density.

I think Neil appreciated the timber for Show & Tell and he did a good job.

Yep.

I have been thinking about getting some to build furniture units I want to take with me when I travel to Perth for my daughter.

Certainly the hardwood I usually use are out of the question . I built a kitchen trolley/bench for my son out od particle board when he was in Sydney, they wanted $280 in excess when I flew down , so I left it behind for son no.2 to use.

Thanks

__________________

I have tried unsuccessfully to get to a few gatherings so that forum members can get to know the timber. It has its limitations as any timber does. It is not something you can go into a 'Bunnings' to buy so I try to get it known and understood. My thanks to Neil for "doing a good job".

Hi John,

thought I'd put this q here - At a no obligation to you guesstimate, how large would a paulownia grown in a plantation get to in around 13 years? Two thinnings have occured, the trees are located in/around Kingaroy area, if that helps with working out rainfall area or such like.

The reason I ask is I've been approached to mill 2 ha of the above and I don't know how large I'd expect to get logs from such tree's. Would I expect to get 450mm+ diameter, if so then it would be worth their while to get them sliced up. If not, say if the tree's could only be expected to be around 300mm dia, then I'd say, they would need some other option to process them, such as a bandsaw/thin kerf machine.

__________________
I love my Lucas!!

...just ask me!

Allan.