Paulownia Timber - Anyone used it?

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Anonymous (not verified)
Paulownia Timber - Anyone used it?
A mate of mine who has started making surfboards was telling me about a timber called Paulownia. Apparently it's light like balsa, but very strong. Has anyone out there either used/sussed out this stuff? I'm wondering if it'd be good to use in my Tiki 21 build next next year. Thanks SD
Anonymous (not verified)
Re: Paulownia Timber - Anyone used it?
Paulownia is too light to use in a Tiki 21 . It used in strip plank hulls instead of red cedar , but its so much lighter than red cedar you have to increase thickness about 20% to get the same strength
Anonymous (not verified)
Re: Paulownia Timber - Anyone used it?
Hmm, ok. Makes sense, thanks heaps for that. I might keep it in mind for the possible project for after the Tiki build then (ie - srip plank Ulua outrigger canoe).
Anonymous (not verified)
Re: Paulownia Timber - Anyone used it?
Hi Scott I guess though that Paulownia would be ideal on the Child of the Sea, so I'm wondering if anybody has used it on that design? At least it's a plantation grown timber which has to be a huge advance on using the natural temperate forest timbers which are under such threat. They also call it Kiri ?? I think? GregF
Anonymous (not verified)
Re: Paulownia Timber - Anyone used it?
Hi Greg, thanks for your reply. It's funny you should say that. Things have evolved a bit since that last post. I have decided not to be such a big girl and to go ahead and attempt to build a Pahi 26 (my original favourite) instead of the Tiki 21. No guts, no glory. Since this is my first boatbuilding project, I elected to build something smaller first (an Ulua), which I have just started a couple of weeks ago. I've chosen to use cedar for this (will be left varnished & prefer the colour) and is going quite well. But it's now got me thinking about the possibility of building a Child of the Sea instead of the Pahi. If I did go this route, I wonder how much lighter one of these would turn out if built in Paulownia instead of cedar......(assuming I don't discover I'm a crap boatbuilder with the Ulua turning out badly). SD
Anonymous (not verified)
Re: Paulownia Timber - Anyone used it?
I have never used it but was researching it for a potential surfboard build. It is considered an invasive species in the Northeast United States. Its fairly cheap and strong. I once saw a picture of a guy standing on a 2x4 that was stretched across his pickup truck. Not easy to find a source.