Paulownia - Sydney?

[peterhum]

Hi
I'm building a stitch and glue kayak with a strip deck. A friend told me about Kiri. I understand from web searching that it's from Paulownia plantation trees, lighter than WRC and good to work.

Does anyone know of any suppliers in Sydney?

Cheers, Peter

[bitingmidge]

or anywhere else for that matter?

There was an ad a few months (years?) ago in Aus Amateur Boatbuilder, but for the life of me I can't find it. I did speak to the advertiser at the time (they were Perth based0.

Some will say that Kiri is the early-growth Paulownia, and it has different characteristics to stuff that's been in the ground a while, but I am still going to get my hands on some to have a play... (provided someone responds to this thread!)

Cheers,

P

[peterhum]

The guy in Perth is Highpoint Timber. They distribute in Qld through CWC Panels. Don't know if there anywhere near you or not. Last time I drove the length of Qld I noticed it was pretty long...

They also have a Vic distributor:
Port Phillip Plantation Shutters
03 9588 2533

But no Sydney distributor. I might see if the Qld guy will send some down. My prob is I only want a tiny bit so the freight will probably be as much as the wood.

Cheers
Peter

[bitingmidge]

That's them!!

Thanks heaps Peter!

Cheers,

P

[graemet]

There is a Paulownia plantation just out of Richmond on the way to Kurrajong, I've often wondered what it's good for. There must be a company name on the notice board, I'll try and remember to look next time I go past.
Cheers,
Graeme

[RETIRED]

Try here for starters. http://www.paulowniatrees.com.au/

Do a Google search under Pawlonias (Australia )and there is a heap of info.

[bitingmidge]

There's lots of info on the site as says, and it even says the stuff is for sale, but when I enquired a few months ago, I received a fairly to the point message about the number of containers that comprise a minimum order!

And yep there's tons of info, it's just hard to find anyone that sells it in canoe quantities! (Highpoint and CWC excepted.)

Cheers,

P

[Waitey]

Hi - new to the forum and this is my first post but I remember a fairly scientific assessment of kiri by Bruce McConkey from Boatcraft Pacific which appeared in Australian Amatuer Boat Builder magazine a while ago. I'll dig a bit more and see if I can find the details of the edition if its of interest - he also did a comparison with Western Red Cedar if I remember correctly.

[mojounwin]

Hi Peter,
I believe Schionning Design also sell Kiri and they are based in Sydney. Try Contact them

http://www.schionningdesigns.com.au/www/welcome.cfm


I'm also looking to build a boat of Kiri so your article would be excellent Waitey.

Cheers

Mike

[Waitey]

Thanks Moujounwin



The article on Kiri was "Strip planking with Kiri" by Dr Bruce McConkey and it appeared in edition #44 of Australian Amateur Boatbuilder. I'm not sure how you might retrieve a copy, but the editors email is [email protected] and the website www.boatbuilder.com.au. I notice that the article draws a distinction between Kiri and Paulownia - the author describes Kiri as at least 15 year old Paulownia, with the observation that the less than 15 year old timber is a weaker, more brittle timber. Hope it helps

Waitey