African Padauk
Pterocarpus soyauxii
Hardness
Hard and durable; stands up to wear and traffic.
Overview
Famous for a vivid orange-red color when freshly cut, used as a bold accent wood in furniture and turning.
Commonly built
- Cutting board accents
- Turned pens & bowls
- Inlay strips
- Jewelry boxes
Appearance
Bright orange to brick red when cut, mellowing to a duller reddish-brown after UV exposure.
Recommended uses
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Works easily with sharp tools. Fine orange dust can stain skin, clothing, and adjacent light-colored woods, keep it away from other stock while sanding.
Common questions
How hard is African Padauk?
African Padauk has a Janka hardness of 1725 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is African Padauk suitable for outdoor use?
African Padauk is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is African Padauk to work with?
African Padauk has Good workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
Finishing notes
Starts a vivid orange-red that inevitably ages to a deep brown under UV, no finish fully prevents this, though a UV-inhibiting finish slows it. The colored dust can bleed, so seal with shellac before an oil finish to lock color and prevent bleed into adjacent light woods. Takes film finishes well over a seal coat.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used african padauk, reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.