Padauk Wood.

Originating from Asia or Africa, padauk wood can be obtained from a wide variety of Pterocarpus species. Padauk wood is a valuable resource due to its durability, strength, and stability when being worked. Its reddish color is quite distinguishable, although often confused with rosewoods, a wood that is somewhat related to padauk.

Extremely common, African padauk is also called Vermilion due to its reddish color. Its heartwood can be a pale orange or a deep brown-red color, with the wood darkening after being cut. With a typically straight grain, African padauk’s texture is open and coarse, with a natural luster.

Resistant to termites and other insects, African padauk is a very durable wood with exceptional rot resistance. Very easy to work with, it finishes glues and turns very well. Some care must be taken due to the possibility of tear-outs occurring during planing on both interlocked or quartersawn grains.

Although having a unique red coloration, this darkens over time even with UV-inhibiting finishes to prolong its natural color. However, African padauk’s strength, stability, and durability make it a very popular wood amongst woodworkers. With a pleasant scent when being worked, this wood can be utilized for furniture, turned objects, veneer, musical instruments, and other wood objects.