Anyone use a lumber called Paulownia?

[Deryk the Pirate]

Hi Folks!

I stopped at a place that deals in cedar lumber and got a price on a lumber called Paulownia a Japanese Cedar. What Im looking at are 1"x6" by 16 footers, tongue and groove wood to do the sides of my trailer. Being cedar its very resistant to rot and the wood is very light yet very strong. I really like the look of real tongue and groove wood since Im doing my version of a light towable vardo.

Any thought?

thanks

deryk

[Big Dan]

I have seen some things made from it. beautiful wood. The tree grows fast, but its a hard wood and can live up to 100 years.Also called ROYAL EMPRESS TREE.

[tk]

A guy around here grows the stuff. I don't know where your info comes from but I assure you the paulownia he grows is no cedar--it has great big heart-shaped deciduous leaves. I don't know the rot resistance of it. I do know from talking to the grower (and from driving by his plantation) that it is indeed fast growing. He also told me that, traditionally, in Japan a tree is planted at the birth of a daughter and the wood is harvested to make traditional tansu furniture for her wedding. It is certainly beautiful wood. The grain reminds me of ash with giganticly thick growth rings and a dark tan/light brown color.

Best,
Tom

[Big Dan]

I planted 4 of them 2 years ago. I'm down to one. working 60 to sometime 80 hours a week in the summer I was not able to care for them like I should have. I got them from (fastgrowingtrees.com) they have a hallow stalk almost like bamboo and bloom with a purple flower with the big green leaves. In the right conditions they can grow 10 or more feet a year.

[Deryk the Pirate]

mmmm thats not the information Im finding.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia

I have a sample of it with me, it does have a light cedar'ish scent ( the sample i got was clearly not recently cut. Its also very light. I weighed it on a cooking/diet scale and a 12 inch by 6 inch (5.5") by 1"(.75") weighed 7 ounces. So a 8' board if it weighed 3.5 pounds and pieces to make a 4'by 8' piece weighed around 32 pounds that seems to be reasonably light. Obviously there would be some 1x2 frameing around it to support it.

[Big Dan]

[droid_ca]

if you go with cedar I'd use CedarShield
www,CedarCide.com
heres a video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sinwavtN-Tw
just my .02ç

[Deryk the Pirate]

Interesting.... wonder how well it really works?

[droid_ca]

some people swear by it I would then put http://www.waterlox.com/ on iy has a gorgeous finish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp8tjaNQqmE
judge for yourself
then do a nice french polish and your good to go

[Deryk the Pirate]

Well my friend who used to be a carpenter before being disabled is goin over to look at the wood with me tomorrow. Im really leaning towards it for the weight factor. Guess my build style is going to change to solid wood walls lol. I still want to use foam insulation for the roof and floor but some of the Paulownia sites Ive come across its noted for its insulateing properties as well.

The nice thing about that Cedarshield can be put on after its built... which is good cause its kinda cold outside here in NJ lol.

[droid_ca]

I was thinking about your design and vardo style with a wooden roof you'd have a treasure chest just need the right pollished brass hardware maybe a antique padlock that could be a nice window awning cover would be fitting for a pirate

[Deryk the Pirate]

Heh trust me Ive thought of a pirate ship trailer... maybe 1 day down the road when I can haul a little more weight. Try to find someone who started to build a boat and stopped lol and get it cheap!