Padauk (African)
Pterocarpus soyauxii • Hardwood / Exotic
Grain Pattern
Straight to interlocked grain with a coarse, open-pored texture; features prominent dark vessel streaks on the face grain.
Color Description
Vivid orange-red heartwood when freshly cut, darkening to a deep reddish-prown or purple-brown over time; sapwood is distinctively pale yellow.
Hardness Rating
1,725 lbf (Hard to Very Hard)
Durability Rating
Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot, decay, and termite attack.
Common Uses
Veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and specialty wood items.
Geographic Origin
Central and Tropical West Africa
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$12.00 to $18.00 per board foot
Wood Age Estimate
The sample appears modern/recently milled based on the vibrant orange hue, as older samples typically oxidize to deep brown.
Sustainability Status
Not currently CITES listed or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; generally considered sustainable.
Workability
Easy to work overall, though interlocked grain can cause tearout during planing; glues and finishes well, but sanding dust can be a significant irritant.
Notable Features
Distinctive faint, pleasant scent when being worked; high natural oil content; dust is a potent orange dye that can stain skin and clothes.
Finish Recommendations
UV-inhibiting finishes/lacquers are recommended to delay the shift from orange to dark brown; oil finishes enhance chatoyance but accelerate darkening.
Identification Confidence
High; the unique 'poker-chip' orange color combined with the specific coarse pore structure and dark vessel lines is diagnostic for African Padauk.