Paulownia Wood for making box calls ( Up dated with pics and more info)

[Wingboneman]

I was wondering if any of the Callmakers on here have used paulownia wood in there calls?  Back in the the mid 90s a man name Sylvester '' ves'' Kyle showed me some of this wood and i had never seen it or know anything about it, But did some checking on it and found it was used to make musical instruments in japan.  Mr Kyle made a few calls from it and they sounded very good.   We even sent it to Mr Camp and he to made a few calls from it. I know it was other call makes that i sent it to that made a few calls also. One was the late Dennis Poeshel.     I have one call left that Kevin Graham made me and sent to me after i sent him some wood to try.    I would like to see someone make a call from it now and see how it sounded, or if anyone is using it let me know.     If anyone would like to hear how the one i have sounds are would like some more info from what i remember from it Pm me and i will give you my number.    Back then we did not have the internet to try to found out more about it like we do now. this is just one site i seen on it.
http://www.worldpaulownia.com/html/tech.html

[Wingboneman]

I may have a good source for getting some Paulownia. I'm going to go look at some this week, if anyone would like to try some let me know.

[fargobox]

I checked out the link..doubtful it would e very good for lids.  It is very light, even lighter density and has a high porosity, higher than poplar, drys fast, but seems to be stable...so all this tells me it could be good, and quite good for the box.  I would be willing to learn more about it and probably try a bit and see how it goes.  If Mr's Camp and Poeshel can make it work, then it must be good enough for me   When you track down a source send me a PM.

[firedup]

Paulownia / Palonia / Palownia....depending on how you like to spell it...is a very light weight and wide grained wood.  WIDE grained.  3/4 to an 1" between growth rings is not uncommon.  The alternating rings have a lavender or purplish hue when seasoned.  It is much less dense than poplar / cypress or cedar. And it has a hollow center as well. Green it is spongy and pithy.  But it does dry to a workable level of hardness.  Tried several calls over the years and never really found a combo that was dependable.  The ultra wide rings made it difficult to get good sound out of both sides of a box. It will make a call that does soft and subtle stuff fairly well tho. Had a big pile of it laying around somewhere. Stuff grows like weeds around here.  The timber guys love it when they can actually find any of harvestable size because it does bring big $$ in the overseas markets.

[GR8CALLS]

This wood was brought to America by Chinese laborers working on the rail roads. It was use in China for decorative boxes. It is very soft!

Bill

[Wingboneman]

From the times we used it i found that the best wood had to come from the northern states. Slow growing season made all the difference.
 

[Zumer]

The two Palonia paddle calls, I have were both made by Ralph Snodgrass..

     They are outstanding paddle calls... For being a softer wood, they came get right with the program, for sure.....

     I have no idea where the wood came from......

[G8ORB8]

I have a paddle call made by Swiney Rayfield in this wood from 1993. It feels lighter than balsa wood, but is a good sounding call.

[Wingboneman]

I have a paddle call made by Swiney Rayfield in this wood from 1993. It feels lighter than balsa wood, but is a good sounding call.

  I sure remember that name ( Rayfield) he may of been one we sent wood to, and it was around that time, mid 90s. I know Mr Kyle spoke of Mr Rayfield and had his calls.

[Wingboneman]

Went up and spent a half day with the paulownia wood man. Was able to purchase some very good kiln dryed Paulownia.  And got a lot of good info on the different ways the wood is being used. Fender is using it in making the Fender Telecaster, and they are getting the Paulownia from The man we meet with.
Found out that paulownia is native to north America to. (please read http://www.paulowniatrees.org/45043-NL-Sep06.pdf )  Seen a Paulownia Dulcimer also.
  I will have some for sale, I will post in classified later this week. Or Pm me for more info on it.
Pics

[Wingboneman]

more pics

[Wingboneman]

Would like to add this, the most important thing, The Paulownia I have is Paulownia (tomentosa) and there is Paulownia (Elongata). the elongata is the very wide grain and not suitable for call making. And it is very hard to tell one from the other. The man showed us one of each and you could tell the Elongata was much lighter and softer then the tomentosa.   

 

[Disciple]

I made the trip up with Wingboneman and got to see some of the panels being used for instruments.  It was amazing to hear the tone quality and the differences in ranges based on wood grain and density.  Pretty cool...

[TomFoolery]

Nice homework, Curtis.

                  Jim