Padauk wood is a highly sought-after exotic hardwood, valued for its striking visual appeal and mechanical performance. It is primarily noted for its vibrant, reddish-orange color when freshly cut, making it a favorite among woodworkers and designers. Padauk is also prized for its innate durability and dimensional stability, possessing a natural resistance to decay and insect attack. This combination of aesthetic brilliance and robust physical properties secures its reputation as a premium timber.
Identifying the Padauk Species
The commercial term “Padauk” is not a reference to a single tree but rather a common name used for many species within the genus Pterocarpus. This botanical classification places Padauk within the Fabaceae family.
Currently, there are approximately 35 accepted species within the Pterocarpus genus, with numerous varieties yielding commercially viable timber. This broad grouping means “Padauk” can refer to woods with subtly different colors, densities, and grain patterns. The most common species encountered in trade are African Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) and various Asian species like Burmese Padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) and Andaman Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides).
Geographic Distribution and Primary Sources
The various species of Padauk trees are distributed across tropical regions of the world, with commercial sourcing primarily split between Central Africa and Southeast Asia. African Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) is the most prevalent in the current global timber trade. This species is native to Central and Tropical West Africa, with significant harvesting occurring in countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Republic of Congo.
Asian Padauk varieties, including Burmese and Andaman Padauk, originate from a wider swath of the continent. Burmese Padauk is sourced mainly from Myanmar and parts of Thailand, while Andaman Padauk is associated with the Andaman Islands of India. These geographic origins result in slight visual distinctions: the African variety often exhibits the most intense, vermilion-orange color, while the Asian species tend to present a deeper, sometimes redder heartwood.
The environment in which these trees grow varies from evergreen rainforests to semi-deciduous forests, demonstrating the genus’s adaptability across tropical climates. African Padauk trees are tall, reaching heights up to 130 feet with straight, large-diameter trunks ideal for lumber production. Differences in sourcing location and species contribute to the final wood characteristics, such as grain structure.
Distinctive Properties of Padauk Wood
The most remarkable characteristic of Padauk wood is its color, which starts as a vivid reddish-orange to bright vermilion when freshly milled. This brilliant hue is the result of chemical compounds in the wood’s heartwood. However, this striking color is transient; when exposed to oxygen and ultraviolet light, the wood undergoes oxidation.
Over time, the vibrant orange color mellows, gradually darkening into a richer, reddish-brown, or sometimes a deep purple-brown shade. Woodworkers often attempt to slow this transformation with UV-inhibiting finishes, but the color shift remains an inherent property of the material.
Padauk is also renowned for its exceptional density, often possessing a Janka hardness rating around 1,970 pounds-force. Despite its hardness, the wood is generally considered easy to work with, though it can dull cutting tools. It may also require filling of its coarse, open pores to achieve a smooth finish, and it releases a faint, pleasant scent when cut or sanded.
Common Applications and Usage
The combination of Padauk’s beautiful aesthetics and mechanical resilience makes it suitable for a range of specialized applications. Its hardness and dimensional stability make it an excellent choice for flooring, where it can withstand high-traffic use and resist warping. It is also highly valued in the creation of fine furniture and cabinetry, where its deep, rich color provides a luxurious appearance.
Padauk’s acoustic properties are highly regarded, leading to its frequent use in the construction of musical instruments. Luthiers use it for the backs and sides of acoustic guitars and for the bodies of electric guitars, valuing its warm, resonant tone with a clear midrange. The wood’s density and uniform structure also make it the preferred material for the keys of percussion instruments such as marimbas and xylophones.
Its resistance to decay and insects means Padauk is also used for:
- Outdoor applications like decking.
- Veneers and turned objects.
- Tool handles.