Woodnet Forums

Cleaning up some land and pulled out a really large paulownia tree that had blown down. Didn't know what it was at the time but when I started to saw it up I was shocked to see red shavings come off the chainsaw.

Unfortunately the spalting is only along the edge but it very unusual.  I have not turned anything other than some handles in years. Trying to figure out if I want to save this wood or just add it to the fire.
 

To me there would be no question about it.  it would be cut up into bowl, platter, or vase blanks.  I do not get enough wood as it is and I would use all of it and the red would make some nice accent pieces.

I really hope to see what you make out of it. 

That is boxelder with wind shake damage causing the red

(05-08-2020, 08:38 PM)AnthonyYak Wrote: [ -> ]That is boxelder with wind shake damage causing the red

No, it is paulownia. I know that for sure.

(05-09-2020, 07:44 AM)Kudzu Wrote: [ -> ]No, it is paulownia. I know that for sure.

Might be that it shares reaction to the same fungus which produces the red in boxelder.  If so, has a tendency to fade over time with light.

https://www.wood-database.com/paulownia/ Lightweight coarse

https://www.wood-database.com/box-elder/ Heavier, fine

leaves and bark..............................

That is a wood I have neve heard of. I have a small amount of box elder that looks exactly like that. From the links posted it should turn nicely. The box elder does. Looking forward to see what you make of it. If you don't want to do it yourself there might be someone here who is close to you that might be willing to take it off your hands. Would be a shame to just burn it

Paulowania will have a large empty pith

(05-09-2020, 11:33 AM)Turner52 Wrote: [ -> ]That is a wood I have neve heard of. I have a small amount of box elder that looks exactly like that. From the links posted it should turn nicely. The box elder does. 

However, if you examine the photo posted you see a strongly ring porous wood, which favors his ID.  Further, unless that's the dullest chain in the world, it's chewed the surface of the cut, which does not happen with sound boxelder, but will with true poplars, willow, and other stringy grain types. 

Where we have boxelder, the wood is as described in the URL referenced - diffuse-porous and short grained.  I agree, it turns delightfully, just like other soft maples.

I did not doubt his type of wood I only stated it looks like some box elder i have. I probably should have stated that I meant as to coloring