Thread: Lockdown light weight carbon wrap stock build - Here we go

great idea!

Where do you get this Paulownia word ? And cost ?

Resin arrived today so prepping the surface to take the base layer. Next time I would hold off bedding till after I carbon wrap. I had to take out a little of the bedding to get the carbon to wrap over the edge.

Rounded up the edges. watched carbon wrap tutorials. will I get time tonight to do the basecoat and carbon? Back to work tomorrow so I better give it a darn good go tonight.

Originally Posted by chainsaw

Where do you get this Paulownia word ? And cost ?

I don't know. But because I am old and an ex farmer I recall that in the 80's or before that Paulownia (sp?) was being touted as a cash crop for east coast farmers. There was going to be a wonderful market for it (along with goats, alpacas and about 20 exotic cattle breeds). Came to nought. Maybe its time has come

Later: https://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forest...ing-paulownia/
@Ben Waimata what do you know about it?

google it....there are sites in NZ with people who have plantations of it,milled and kiln dried....doesnt say cost however.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I don't know. But because I am old and an ex farmer I recall that in the 80's or before that Paulownia (sp?) was being touted as a cash crop for east coast farmers. There was going to be a wonderful market for it (along with goats, alpacas and about 20 exotic cattle breeds). Came to nought. Maybe its time has come

Later: https://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forest...ing-paulownia/
@Ben Waimata what do you know about it?

I planted Paulownia about 28 years ago, the trees are modreately attractive but that's about the end of their value here. It's just the same old story, NZ climate is so different to their habitat that it was never really likely to work. Paulownia grow naturally in China where there are very distinct seasons (winter and summer average temperatures can be over 30C different!), and in a climate where almost all the rain is during the summer growing season. Bring them to NZ where the average temperatures in summer and winter are usually about 8-10C different, then plant them on the East Coast of the NI where summers can be very dry, and get surprised they do not thrive.

The wood is very light, but the tree form is so horrible it woul dbe a lot of work to prune them to timber form. IN China this is not a problem as they traditionally used them in agroforestry as interplant with row crops, and all the foliage is pruned off for use as fertiliser around the crops. They have a high input pruning system to provide mulch/fertility that incidentally produces a straight timber log. Over here, the natural tree form is allowed to develop, somewhat similar to a broccoli in shape. I heard about a forest experiment of Paulownia in NE NSW some years back, I got the chance to go see them feeling a bit enthusiastic about how they would perform in the subtropical climate with most of the rain in summer, but they were almost as bad as the ones I've seen in NZ.

You do see the occaisonal nice one but they are rare. The fallen limbs seem to rot away easily on the ground so would need good protection if you were using it as a gunstock. Certainly light though, paulownia is only a little bit heavier than balsa. I'm not aware of anyone still thinking they are a serious timber proposition here, but no doubt there is some eccentric out there somewhere still working with them.

Yep, did that. The website itself not that helpful.

https://paulownianz.co.nz/

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

https://paulownianz.co.nz/

Yip I buy mine from Graham. Lovely bloke, dairy farmer.
His timber is perfect, well the clears I buy are. Zero knots

Originally Posted by Gibo

Yip I buy mine from Graham. Lovely bloke, dairy farmer.
His timber is perfect, well the clears I buy are. Zero knots

It's amazing people like that, small number of trees but making a commercial go of it. Well done. I wonder how many others there are still persevering with paulownia? It's no surprise it's on a dairy farm, this is a tree best suited to the best sites.

Originally Posted by Ben Waimata

It's amazing people like that, small number of trees but making a commercial go of it. Well done. I wonder how many others there are still persevering with paulownia? It's no surprise it's on a dairy farm, this is a tree best suited to the best sites.

I could be wrong but think he was on country calendar once. Bit of a side line I think but still pretty interesting

I think in some parts of the world (USA, Oz), and also NZ (BoP, Waikato?), it officially has pest status and you're not allowed to plant it?

Anyway, the stock looks awesome. Great skills

Hi Ben. not sure where you are getting your info from, maybe its out dated. Ill post some pics of a great plantation in Nuhaka once I get hold of them. A surfboard maker buys it into Gisborne. Its amazing to work with... except with a chisel lol. but sands and rasps brilliantly. the next stock I make from it will only have a carbon wrist... or may a laminated core and a coat of resin painted on the outer. it doesnt need full carbon but I thought itd be a cool project.

Originally Posted by Scott Cowan

Hi Ben. not sure where you are getting your info from, maybe its out dated. Ill post some pics of a great plantation in Nuhaka once I get hold of them. A surfboard maker buys it into Gisborne. Its amazing to work with... except with a chisel lol. but sands and rasps brilliantly. the next stock I make from it will only have a carbon wrist... or may a laminated core and a coat of resin painted on the outer. it doesnt need full carbon but I thought itd be a cool project.

Scott check out the blade @hotbarrels on here made me. Its the shiznit for carving paulownia

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....-making-55651/