African Padauk's dramatic bright orange-red heartwood mellows to a deep reddish-brown with light exposure. It combines high natural durability with excellent dimensional stability - a favourite for decorative furniture, turnery, knife scales and tool handles.
Freshly milled Padauk is one of the most vivid woods on earth - bright orange to red. Under UV exposure the colour darkens to a deep reddish-brown over months. UV-blocking finishes can slow this transformation but cannot stop it entirely; many designers embrace the patina.
Padauk is a pleasure to work - straight grain, moderate density and consistent texture. It machines cleanly, glues well and finishes excellently. Dust is a known sensitiser; use extraction and PPE.
Indicative values from The Wood Database, AHEC species data and USDA Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-190). Actual values vary by origin and growing conditions.
| Character | Dry | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Janka Hardness | 1,970 | lbf |
| Bending Strength (MOR) | 16,860 | psi |
| Stiffness (MOE) | 1,700 | 1,000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.75 | - |
| Weight | 47 | lbs/ft³ |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3.3 | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 5.2 | % |
Other dimensions, grades and certifications available on request.
The most vivid wood in commercial trade; no stain can replicate fresh Padauk.
Highly rot and insect resistant, usable outdoors without preservative.
Janka 1,970 lbf with exceptional dimensional stability.
The questions buyers, architects and joiners ask us most often about African Padauk.
The go-to mahogany alternative - ribbon-stripe figure, dense and stable.
Deep red, rot-resistant African hardwood - a top mahogany alternative.
Classic reddish-brown mahogany - wide availability, fine even texture.
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