Customer Projects
What Australians build with our plantation-grown Paulownia timber, from architectural ceilings to surfboards, boats and fishing lures.
Paulownia (known in Japan as Kiri) is one of the lightest commercial timbers in the world, yet it is stable, easy to machine and takes a finish beautifully. That combination means our customers use it for an unusually wide range of projects. Below are the most common applications we supply, with examples of the work our customers have produced.
Built something with our Paulownia? Email a few photos to info@paulowniatimber.com.au and we would love to feature your project here.
Customer story · Queensland
Tom's chambered Paulownia wooden surfboards
Tom, a customer in Queensland, buys our Paulownia to build his own chambered wooden surfboards. A chambered board has hollowed-out sections inside, which keeps it light and buoyant while keeping the strength and feel of solid timber. Tom has now finished two boards and is about to start his third. It is exactly the kind of project Paulownia is perfect for: light, stable, easy to shape and beautiful once it is glassed.
Read our guide to how wooden surfboards compare to foam and fibreglass.
Customer story · Northern NSW
Alanah's carved Paulownia surfboard
Alanah contacted us for guidance on timber for her Year 12 Major Work. We supplied rough sawn Paulownia, which we sent to her in Northern NSW, and she completed the project at school. The result is a fantastic piece: a carved display surfboard with contrasting timber stripes.
Architectural lining boards and timber ceilings
Architects, builders and home owners use our Paulownia VJ lining boards for feature ceilings, wall linings and joinery. Our standard 90 x 9 mm profile is available in 2.4 m single-piece lengths, with finger-jointed boards available for longer runs. Boards are supplied unfinished so you can choose your own low-VOC oil, stain or clear coat.
Wooden surfboards and surf handplanes
Paulownia has been used for hollow and solid wooden surfboards for decades because it is light, buoyant and resists water uptake. We supply board builders across Australia, along with surf handplane kits for schools that make a great hands-on Design and Technology project.
Boat building and strip planking
Our Paulownia strip planking is a popular, lightweight alternative to Western Red Cedar for strip-built canoes, kayaks and small boats. We can mill custom strip sizes and deliver all around Australia. See our marine timber page for more.
Fishing lures
Paulownia is ideal for high-quality fishing lures. We supply lure makers around Australia, from large manufacturers to people experimenting at home, and our timber is especially well suited to large stickbaits. We can also CNC machine lure blanks to your shape.
Electric guitar bodies
Luthiers and hobby builders use Paulownia for lightweight electric guitar body blanks. Most customers shape their own bodies, but we can also CNC machine bodies to order from your design files.
School, CNC and laser engraving projects
Our edge-glued Paulownia panels machine cleanly on a CNC router, laser engrave crisply and are light enough for students to handle easily, which makes them a favourite for school Design and Technology projects, signage, phone stands and prototypes.
Kiri cutting boards
In Japan, soft Kiri wood is prized for cutting boards because it protects the thin, fragile edges of Japanese kitchen knives. Find out why in our article on Kiri cutting boards for Japanese knives.
Start your own project
No order is too big or too small. Tell us what you are making and we will recommend the right sizes and grade. Call 0426 281 785, email info@paulowniatimber.com.au or request a quote. Pick up from Hornsby, NSW, or ask us for a freight quote anywhere in Australia.
