Padauk Wood

Common Trade Names: African padauk wood, vermillion, African coralwood

Scientific Name: Pterocarpus soyauxii (p soyauxii)

Color Range: pale pink orange to deep brown, red heartwood, cream-colored sapwood

Availability: availability is based on import from padauk wood’s country of origin

Janka Scale Hardness: 1970 lbf

Average Weight per BF: 3.75 lbs/ Bd. Ft.

What Is Padauk Wood?

Padauk wood is known for its ethereal beauty. This wood's astonishing slew of colors gives exquisite appeal to any woodworking project. The texture of padauk can be likened to that of African mahogany, with an open texture and large pores. Padauk is typically straight-grained, but there are times that you can see some interlocking ones. As a tree, padauk can grow from 100 to 130 ft tall (30-40 m) with a trunk diameter of 2 to 4 ft (0.6-1.2 m). It is also easy to work with and an excellent option for furniture making, musical instruments, turning wood, and flooring.

Where Does Padauk Come From?

Padauk is an imported wood from central Africa and the tropical regions of west Africa. Padauk trees are abundant in Nigeria, east to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and south to Angola.

You can also find padauk trees in India, Indochina, the South Pacific and even southern Florida. While the African padauk is the variety that is easily available to consumers, you may see other varieties occasionally sold, such as:

• Andaman padauk (P. dalbergioides)
• Angola padauk or muniga
• Kiaat (P. angolensis)
• Burmese padauk (P. macrocarpus)
• Narra (P. indicus)
• Sandalwood padauk (P. santalinus)

Is Padauk a Hardwood or Softwood?

Padauk trees are deciduous trees that lose their leaves during fall and winter. All trees that lose their leaves annually are categorized as hardwood regardless of their hardness and density. As a hardwood, padauk is very strong and stable. It has impressive decay-resistant properties that make it durable to use, especially for furniture. Padauk is also resistant to termite attacks and other insects.

What to Look for When Buying Padauk Wood

Make sure you buy genuine padauk wood by checking for the physical appearance of the lumber. Observe the color which should range from pale pinkish orange to deep brownish red.

The wood has a reddish orange color when freshly cut, but this darkens to reddish or purplish brown as it ages. The grain must be straight with occasional interlocks, while the texture is coarse and open. It also has large to very large pores that do not have a specific pattern, and indistinct growth rings.

Ask for the time and the method of drying the padauk lumber. You have to ensure that the one you are getting has been dried properly to prevent any defects from forming over time.

Additionally, you must know the lumber grade of the wood you are buying. Lumber grades say a lot about the wood’s quality and appearance.

FAQs

Can padauk furniture go outside?

Padauk wood makes an outstanding choice for outdoor applications. Padauk is known for its durability and resistance to termite and insect attacks. It is also decay-resistant, which means it can withstand outdoor elements.

As with every wood, however, exposing padauk furniture to sunlight may hasten the color change which will make it appear darker with a reddish brown hue instead of the bright orange-red it once had.

How can I tell if the furniture I have is real padauk?

If you observe its appearance, you can differentiate between real African padauk wood from a fake, engineered wood type. Check for the grain and see to it that the grain pattern on the edge of the wood aligns with the grain pattern on the top surface of the wood species. The pattern should also be natural and not repetitive.

Is padauk wood workable?

Using padauk lumber and wood pieces for your woodworking project is easy. A lot of woodworkers – amateurs and seasoned pros – prefer to use the padauk wood species for its overall workability. Padauk responds well to turning, staining and finishes. It can also be cut easily. On the flip side, tearout may happen when planing a quartersawn or interlocked grain wood.

Where to Buy Padauk Wood

Only buy a padauk wood type from reputable and reliable sellers. Padauk is an imported wood product and should come into the United States with all the legal permits associated with its importation. We, at Alderfer Lumber Company Inc., guarantee the legality and quality of all our products and services.

Our padauk lumber has been sustainably sourced from its native country. We also carefully transport the wood to make sure that it won’t get damaged while in transit. All our lumber has top-grade FAS ratings that prove their premium quality.

For questions and to check our lumber inventory, feel free to contact us.