African Padauk

Pterocarpus soyauxii

African Padauk is a bright orange red hardwood that darkens richly. It has good stability and dramatic grain for accents.

Janka

1725

Price Tier

$$$

Dent Risk

Low

Overview

African padauk wood brings loud color: fresh orange-red that slowly drifts toward a darker brown as it oxidizes. It is strong and generally workable, but interlocked grain can surprise you with tearout on the jointer. The dust can be irritating, and it stains everything it touches, including your hands and shop rags. If you want the color to stick around longer, keep it out of direct sun and use a finish with UV inhibitors. It is a statement wood, not a subtle one.

Key takeaways

At a Glance

Hardness & Heft

Janka: 1725 lbf

Dry weight: 47 lbs/ft³ (753 kg/m³)

Color & Figure

Color:: Reddish orange

Grain: Interlocked

Figure: Ribbon figure

Stability & Movement

Movement: Light

Drying: Typically dries without extreme drama

Workability

Plays nice with

Fights you on

Finishing

Best Uses

Great for

Avoid for

Where it comes from

Central and West Africa Tropical Forest

Buying notes

Seal offcut dust and shavings; they can stain lighter stock on the bench overnight.

What to Watch Out For

Practical Alternatives

Shop Notes / Deeper Dive

Padauk starts as a stunning, vibrant orange-red, but it will eventually oxidize into a deep brown—UV-inhibiting finishes can slow the clock, but they won’t stop it. The dust is a bright orange powder that gets everywhere and can ruin adjacent light woods. Use a sealer coat to lock that color in before you start your build-up.

Like what you see?

While I occasionally work with some of these species, availability varies widely. If you’re researching woods for a custom project, feel free to reach out.

Reference Notes: Wood grain and color can vary significantly within a species depending on growing conditions, age, and cut orientation. Images on this page are provided as general reference examples and may not represent every possible variation of the species. Geographic distribution maps illustrate typical native or commonly cultivated ranges and may not reflect every region where the species occurs today.

Additional technical data and botanical information may be referenced from sources such as the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook.