What kind of wood is it?

The Paulownia wood is a beautiful pale color that reminds me of a light maple.  However because of the massive amount of growth each year, there are far fewer rings or veins visible.  This leaves a virtually clear pale wood that can be utilized in many different applications. 

But, don’t assume everything you make has to be left in this pale color.  If you like the richer tones and deeper hues of more traditional woods, don’t worry.  This wood takes stain like a champ!  The image on the left is just an example of the beautiful range of stain colors that can be used in any type of application.

While the tree is growing it contains a high level of moisture which not only helps the tree during dry seasons, it greatly reduces the flammability of the tree.  This helps to reduce the spread of wildfires in areas that contain Paulownia trees.  Now if I am talking to a woodworker, they may be concerned about how long it would take for this wood to dry out once harvested.  Don’t worry, although it is a wet grower it dries out very quickly and has an air dried density around 0.26 – 0.33 g/cm3.  

The images on the right and below show multiple uses for the Paulownia wood, but notice that it was also used for the shelves. Although the wood is approximately 40% lighter than traditional woods, it is very strong and will not easily warp, crack, or deform.  It is also one of the softer hardwoods you can find.  This makes it perfect for carving and shaping into any project you have in mind.  I’ve added the images below to show you just a few of the different uses for this amazing and beautiful wood.

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