Purple Heart rough sawn lumber
Colour-forward exotic alternative for accent strips and specialty pieces.
View optionAfrican Padauk Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Imported specialty hardwood
African Padauk is best understood by how it looks, how it works, and where it should be used. This guide explains the practical buying details before sending you to the right Kingma products.
Scientific namePterocarpus soyauxii
Janka hardness1,710 lbf
Average dried weight46.5 lb/ft³
Best fitVeneer
Overview
Why choose African Padauk?
African Padauk is a imported specialty hardwood associated with Central and tropical west Africa. It is useful when the project calls for veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects
For SEO and customer usefulness, this page separates the science from the buying decision: appearance, working behaviour, durability, project fit, and then the right Kingma shopping path.
Scientific namePterocarpus soyauxii
DistributionCentral and tropical west Africa
ShrinkageRadial: 3.1%, Tangential: 5.0%, Volumetric: 7.9%, T/R Ratio: 1.6 More images | Identification
DurabilityHas excellent decay resistance, and is rated as durable to very durable.
African Padauk colour, grain, and figure
Expect heartwood color can vary, ranging from a pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. 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).
In practical selection, the grain and texture are best treated this way: grain is usually straight, but can sometimes be interlocked. With a coarse, open texture and good natural luster.
Working notes
In the shop, overall padauk is easy to work, though tearout may occur when planing quartersawn or interlocked grain. Padauk turns and glues well.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, padauk has been reported as a sensitizer .
African Padauk should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for African Padauk
Best projects
Veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects
Use caution
Avoid specifying it by name alone; confirm board size, moisture, colour, figure, and the project environment before buying.
Finish strategy
Test finishes on offcuts first, especially when colour, blotching, outdoor exposure, or grain filling matters.
Buying note
Choose boards, slabs, plywood, blanks, or posts based on the project rather than species name alone.
Shop path
Buying African Padauk from Kingma
Start with the direct species match when Kingma sells it. If stock rotates, use the closest live collection or a clearly explained alternative.
Sapele rough sawn lumber
Warm exotic alternative when bold colour is less important than furniture usefulness.
View optionSimilar woods and alternatives
If Kingma does not have an exact match online, use the buying links below as practical alternatives only when the colour, grain, hardness, or project environment makes sense.
African Padauk FAQ
What is African Padauk best used for?
African Padauk is best considered for veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is African Padauk beginner friendly?
It depends on density, grain direction, and tooling. Test cuts on offcuts first, and choose Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Poplar when easier machining is the priority.
Does Kingma sell African Padauk?
Use the buying section on this page. If an exact product is not listed, the linked alternatives are included only when they make practical sense for colour, grain, or project use.