Purple Heart rough sawn lumber
Colour-forward exotic alternative for accent strips and specialty pieces.
View optionBurmese Padauk Wood Guide
Wood species guide · Domestic hardwood species
Burmese 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 macrocarpus
Janka hardness2,150 lbf
Average dried weight54 lb/ft³
Best fitTool handles
Overview
Why choose Burmese Padauk?
Burmese Padauk is a domestic hardwood species. Found in Thailand and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Common uses include tool handles, furniture, musical instruments, turned objects, flooring, veneer, plus other small specialty wood items.
Scientific namePterocarpus macrocarpus
DistributionFound in Thailand and Myanmar (formerly Burma)
ShrinkageRadial: 3.4%, Tangential: 5.8%, Volumetric: 8.4%, T/R Ratio: 1.7
DurabilityVery durable against decay, and it resists termites and other insects well.
Burmese Padauk colour, grain, and figure
Heartwood colour varies, spanning pale golden yellow and deep reddish brown, and it tends to settle into a golden brown with time.
The grain is typically interlocked. The texture is coarse, with fairly large open pores.
Working notes
It is denser than African padauk and has interlocked grain, so Burma padauk can be hard to work. It turns nicely and accepts glue and finish without fuss.
Serious reactions are rare, but Burma padauk is a known sensitizer in some people.
Burmese Padauk should be sold by project fit: colour, workability, durability, and the format the customer actually needs.
Best uses for Burmese Padauk
Best projects
Common uses include tool handles, furniture, musical instruments, turned objects, flooring, veneer, plus other small specialty wood items.
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 Burmese 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.
Burmese Padauk FAQ
What is Burmese Padauk best used for?
Common uses include tool handles, furniture, musical instruments, turned objects, flooring, veneer, plus other small specialty wood items. Match it to the exact board format, colour, hardness, and finish plan before buying.
Is Burmese 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 Burmese Padauk?
The buying section on this page links to any Burmese Padauk Kingma has in stock and to the closest alternatives. Stock changes often, so call (780) 229-7681 or visit the yard at 4607 91 Ave NW, Edmonton to check what is in today.