Padauk (African)
Pterocarpus soyauxii · Exotic/Tropical Hardwood
- Type
- Exotic/Tropical Hardwood
- Origin
- Central and West Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Zaire)
- Hardness
- 1,725 lbf (Hard to Very Hard)
- Durability
- Very Durable. Excellent decay resistance and good resistance to termites and other insects.
Got a wood sample like this?
Identify any wood from a photo, free.
Grain Pattern
Straight to interlocked grain with a coarse texture and large open pores. The sample shows a mostly straight, vertical grain typical of a rift-sawn orientation.
Color & Appearance
Heartwood is a vibrant reddish-orange that darkens to a deep reddish-brown or purple-brown over time with UV exposure. Sapwood is a pale yellow. Moderate luster and slight chatoyance.
Hardness (Janka)
1,725 lbf (Hard to Very Hard)
Durability & Decay Resistance
Very Durable. Excellent decay resistance and good resistance to termites and other insects.
Value & Sustainability
- Estimated Market Value
- $12.00 - $18.00 per board foot depending on width and thickness.
- Wood Age Estimate
- Freshly milled/finished within the last 1-2 years based on the retention of bright orange-red pigment.
- Sustainability Status
- Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; generally considered sustainable and widely available.
Common Uses
Furniture, flooring, cabinetry, musical instruments (marimbas, tool handles, turned objects, and specialty small wood items.
Geographic Origin
Central and West Africa (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Zaire)
Workability
Generally easy to work; glues and finishes well. Interlocked grain can cause some tearout during planing. Can be difficult to keep bright color long-term.
Finish Recommendations
UV-inhibiting finishes like a high-quality varnish or polyurethane are recommended to delay the darkening of the orange color; oil finishes will darken it more rapidly.
Notable Features
Faint, pleasant scent when being worked. Known for its incredible initial color. Dust can be a sensitizer and causes orange staining. Highly stable wood.
