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Bold, exotic, and naturally vibrant, padauk is a striking hardwood known for its brilliant reddish-orange hue and excellent durability. We offer premium padauk lumber and turning blanks ideal for fine furniture, flooring, inlays, musical instruments, and turned pieces that call for a dramatic, eye-catching finish. Native to Africa and parts of Asia, padauk is prized for its rich colour, which can deepen to a warm brown over time, especially with exposure to UV light. It features a straight to interlocked grain and a smooth texture, making it relatively easy to machine, sand, and finish. Padauk also boasts excellent strength, stability, and natural resistance to rot and insects. As a proudly Canadian company, Windsor Plywood specializes in hard-to-find and exotic woods, backed by expert knowledge and personalized service. Whether you're crafting a showpiece or adding a bold accent, padauk brings vibrant colour and lasting performance to every project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is padauk and what makes it distinctive?
African padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) is a West African hardwood known for its vivid bright orange to red-orange colour — one of the most striking natural colours in any wood species. It has a coarse, open grain, moderate hardness (Janka approximately 1725), and is relatively easy to work for an exotic hardwood. Padauk is used for accent work, inlay, turning, musical instruments, and decorative furniture pieces.
Does padauk maintain its orange colour over time?
No. Padauk's vivid orange-red colour fades significantly and rapidly with UV exposure, transitioning to a reddish-brown and eventually a dark, muted brown over months to years. UV-inhibiting clear finishes slow the process but cannot prevent the colour change. Many woodworkers use padauk for the colour contrast it provides initially and accept the natural ageing as part of the material's character.
Can padauk dust cause health issues?
Yes. Padauk dust is a sensitizer that can cause skin and respiratory reactions in some individuals, and sensitization can develop with repeated exposure. Standard respiratory protection (N95 dust mask), dust collection, and good ventilation are essential when machining padauk. Wash hands and any exposed skin thoroughly after handling. Once the wood is finished, it is safe for normal handling.
What is padauk used for in woodworking?
Padauk is used for decorative accents in furniture and cabinetry, turning bowls and vessels, pen blanks, knife handles, musical instrument accents, inlay strips and banding, and small decorative boxes. Its colour contrast with lighter woods like maple and ash is dramatic when used in combination pieces such as cutting boards and inlay work.
Does Windsor Plywood carry padauk?
Windsor Plywood carries padauk as a specialty exotic hardwood in lumber and turning blank dimensions subject to current availability. Contact your local Windsor Plywood branch to confirm whether padauk is currently in stock for your project.