Paulownia wood is a type of hardwood that comes from the Paulownia tree, specifically the Paulownia tomentosa species. It is a lightweight and porous wood that is easy to work with, but also relatively strong and durable.
The wood is pale grayish brown with a coarse, uneven texture, and very large pores, giving it a striped, porous appearance.
Paulownia wood is used in a variety of applications, including plywood, veneer, furniture, boxes, millwork/siding, musical instruments, clogs, carvings, and other small specialty items. It is particularly popular in Japan, where it is known as “kiri” and is used in the construction of the koto, a stringed musical instrument.
About poulownia wood
- Common Name(s): Paulownia, Royal Paulownia, Princess Tree, Kiri
- Scientific Name: Paulownia tomentosa
- Distribution: Native to eastern Asia; also planted in eastern North America
- Tree Size: 30-65 ft (10-20 m) tall, 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m) trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 18 lbs/ft3 (280 kg/m3)
- Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .25, .28
- Janka Hardness: 300 lbf (1,330 N)
- Modulus of Rupture: 5,480 lbf/in2 (37.8 MPa)
- Elastic Modulus: 635,000 lbf/in2 (4.38 GPa)
- Crushing Strength: 3,010 lbf/in2 (20.7 MPa)
- Shrinkage: Radial: 2.4%, Tangential: 3.9%, Volumetric: 6.4%, T/R Ratio: 1.6
Advantages of Paulownia Wood:
- Lightweight: Paulownia wood is one of the lightest and most porous hardwoods available. This makes it an excellent choice for applications where weight is a concern, such as in furniture, musical instruments, and boat building.
- Fast–Growing: Paulownia is one of the fastest-growing trees in the world, with growth rates of over seven feet per year as a seedling. This makes it an attractive choice for timber plantations, as it can be harvested relatively quickly.
- Easy to Work: Due to its straight grain and light weight, Paulownia is extremely easy to work with. It can be sawn, planed, drilled, and sanded with ease, and takes a variety of finishes well.
- Decent Durability: Paulownia is reported to be durable regarding decay resistance and has decent weathering characteristics.
Disadvantages of Paulownia Wood:
- Availability: Paulownia is seldom offered for sale in the United States, making it difficult to source and potentially expensive.
- Low Density: While the low density of Paulownia makes it lightweight and easy to work with, it also makes it less structurally strong than other woods. This means that it may not be suitable for applications where strength is a primary concern.
- Brittle: Paulownia wood can be brittle, which can lead to issues such as splitting and cracking.
- Silica Content: Some Paulownia trees have a high silica content, which can cause a blunting effect on cutting edges. This can make working with the wood more challenging.
