English name: African Padauk
Latin name: Pterocarpus soyauxii
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Pterocarpus
Features: Heartwood color can vary, ranging from a pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. Most pieces tend to start reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening substantially over time to a reddish/purplish brown (some lighter pieces age to a grayish brown).
Trees and distribution: Large trees, up to 30m, more than 1.2m in diameter, distributed in Central and tropical west Africa.
Material: Grain is usually straight, but can sometimes be interlocked. With a coarse, open texture and good natural luster.Has excellent decay resistance, and is rated as durable to very durable. Padauk is also reported to be resistant to termites and other insects. Overall Padauk is easy to work; tearout may also occur during planing on quartersawn or interlocked grain. Padauk turns, glues, and finishes well. Padauk has a faint, pleasing scent while being worked.
Applications: Veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects.
