Padauk is the most common spelling, followed by padouk, paduk, and paduak. This wood species has a number of variant spellings and pronunciations, with a few being predominant. It also occupies a sweet spot in density where it’s sufficiently hard and dense for higher-wear applications, yet not so dense as to be excessively difficult to work. Padauk is a popular hardwood among hobbyist woodworkers because of its unique color and relatively low cost. It’s moderately heavy, strong, and stiff, with exceptional stability. Curiously, this popular commercial timber has not yet been evaluated by the IUCN and is therefore not on the Red List of Threatened Species.Ĭommon Uses: Veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects.Ĭomments: Padauk has a very unique reddish orange coloration, and the wood is sometimes referred to by the name vermillion. Sustainability: African padauk is listed in CITES Appendix II under the genus-wide restriction of all Pterocarpus species from Africa. Pricing/Availability: Widely imported as lumber in a variety of lengths and thicknesses, as well as turning and craft blanks (though with increasing levels of scarcity and trade restrictions.) Should be moderately priced for an import. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Odor:Padauk has a faint, pleasing scent while being worked.Īllergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, padauk has been reported as a sensitizer. Reactive oil-based finishes, such as polyurethane, may have curing issues if the heartwood is not sealed properly beforehand. Filling the large open pores is usually necessary if a smooth, glass-like surface is desired. Workability: Overall padauk is easy to work, though tearout may occur when planing quartersawn or interlocked grain. Padauk is also reported to be resistant to termites and other insects. Rot Resistance:Has excellent decay resistance, and is rated as durable to very durable. With a coarse, open texture and good natural luster. Grain/Texture:Grain is usually straight, but can sometimes be interlocked. See the article Preventing Color Changes in Exotic Woods for more information. UV-inhibiting finishes may prolong, but not prevent the gradual color-shift of this brightly colored wood. Most pieces tend to start a vibrant reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening substantially over time to a reddish/purplish brown (some lighter-colored pieces can age to a grayish brown). Also used for making billiard cue butts, tool handles, interior and exterior joinery and shipbuilding.Color/Appearance: Heartwood color can vary, ranging from a pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. In addition, it i s also used in chemical plants for vats, filter press plates and frames. It can also be used as flooring because of its high wearing qualities and is suitable for most high traffic areas. It is an excellent structural timber suitable for heavy outdoor construction work such as bridges, dock work and park benches. Turns smoothly, easy to glue and takes finishes well. Slow feed rates and especially hardened cutters are suggested. This wood is moderately difficult to work with either hand or machine tools, dulls cutters and exudes a gummy resin when heated by dull tools. Its texture is medium to fine lustre is medium to high, does not have any distinctive odor or taste. The sapwood is either cream or whitish in color and the grain is generally straight. The wood is dull brown in appearance when freshly cut and rapidly oxidizes to violet purple upon exposure to light where it gradually reduces to a dark purplish brown over time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |