Padauk

Pterocarpus soyauxii

Top portion of sample has water-based finish. Bottom portion is oil-based finish.

Appearance

Color: Heartwood is vivid reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening to reddish- or purple- brown or black over time. Sapwood is cream-colored. Very uniform in color.
Grain: Straight to interlocked; coarse texture.

Variations Within Species And Grades: Slight variation in color.

Properties

Hardness/Janka: Janka:1725; (34% harder than Northern red oak).
Dimensional Stability: Excellent (5.2; 40% more stable than Northern red oak).
Durability:

Workability

Sawing/Machining: Saws well, but requires a slow feed rate; carbide tooling recommended. Machines easily, with some tearing of the interlocked grain.
Sanding: Sands satisfactorily.
Nailing: No known problems.
Finishing: Because of the oil in the wood, oil-modified finishes may require long dry times. Waterborne finishes are often recommended. Has a tendency to bleed. Conversion varnishes also have been known to work well.
Comments: Dermatological and respiratory allergic potential.

Origin: Africa

Availability

Moderately available.