I am new to this sort of thing so I hope I have posted correctly..
I am a Hobbiest/woodworker with average skills. I don’t have expensive tools and have never had the opportunity to delve into Fine Furniture, but I enjoy working with wood. I have worked in cabinet shops and dabbled in many things from toy making to canoe / kayak making as a hobby.
I have run across a wood called Paulownia, which appears to be a boat builders dream. Light as Balsa, strength of Pine, Rot resistant, Low shrinkage or expansion with humidity changes, dries quickly.
After reading earlier posts on in-expensive woods to build with, I am wondering if this wood is useful for furniture building and “If & Where” it can be found. Have any of you had experience with this wood and have an oppinion to offer for it’s value as a furniture making product.
Rehd
Replies
There's a short article on Paulownia in a recent issue of Make: magazine. The author bought some blinds that had Paulownia slats, and he came up with some simple projects to use the extras. He says they work well in bent laminations.
r,
Thank you for your question.
I found this website:
http://www.paulowniatrees.org/
It seems to be popular in Japan as a wood for furniture.
Here is a link to an end table:
http://www.paulowniatrees.org/endtable.jpg
Some picture frames:
http://www.paulowniatrees.org/frames.jpg
If it's soft, I might not use it for a tabletop.
All the best,
Gerald La Starza
Fine Woodworking
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