Padauk wood (often spelled “Padak” in India) comes from several species in the Pterocarpus genus and is an exotic, premium hardwood renowned for its striking, vibrant reddish-orange color, excellent stability, and toughness.
Appearance & Texture
- Color: When freshly cut, the wood displays a very bright orange-red or crimson color, sometimes referred to as “vermillion”. With exposure to sunlight, this dramatic color naturally ages and darkens to a deep, warm reddish-brown or purple-brown over time.
- Grain: It typically has a straight grain, with a coarse and uneven texture and large open pores.
- Luster & Scent: The wood possesses a natural luster and may have a faint, aromatic scent, especially when being worked.
Strength & Durability
- Hardness & Density: Padauk is a tough, dense, and heavy wood, known for excellent strength characteristics, particularly in bending and crushing.
- Durability: It is highly valued for its exceptional durability and natural resistance to decay, rot, and insect attacks, including termites. This makes the heartwood suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Stability: Padauk is one of the most stable hardwoods available, resisting warping, shrinking, and cracking, which is a key reason for its use in flooring and precise applications.
- Workability: While dense, it is generally considered easy to work with hand and machine tools, though carbide-tipped blades are recommended to manage its hardness. It turns, glues, and finishes well.