African Padauk
Pterocarpus soyauxii · hardwood · West Africa · low movement
- Janka hardness 1,970 lbfred oak ≈ 1,290 lbf
- Density ≈ 50 lb/ft³specific gravity 0.72 at 12% MC
- Shrinkage — tangential 5.2%flatsawn width, green → ovendry
- Shrinkage — radial 3.3%quartersawn width
- T/R ratio 1.6 : 1higher = more cupping in flatsawn stock
Shop notes Vivid orange, remarkably stable, and easy to machine for its weight. The dust stains everything — dedicated dust collection advised.
Seasonal movement at a glance
Width change for african padauk across a typical indoor year — 6% moisture content in the heated winter to 12% in a humid summer:
| Board width | Flatsawn | Quartersawn |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 1/16″ (0.067″) | 1/32″ (0.042″) |
| 12″ | 1/8″ (0.134″) | 3/32″ (0.085″) |
| 24″ | 9/32″ (0.267″) | 5/32″ (0.170″) |
| 36″ | 13/32″ (0.401″) | 1/4″ (0.255″) |
Run your own numbers
Different width, different climate swing — the calculator below is preset to african padauk:
Typical swings:
African Padauk questions
How much does african padauk move with the seasons?
A 12″-wide flatsawn african padauk board moves about 1/8″ across a typical indoor swing from 6% to 12% moisture content; quartersawn, about 3/32″. Its tangential shrinkage is 5.2% and radial 3.3% (green to ovendry) — a low-movement wood.
How hard is african padauk?
African Padauk rates about 1,970 lbf on the Janka scale — noticeably harder than red oak (red oak is roughly 1,290 lbf). Density runs about 50 lb/ft³ at indoor moisture levels.
Is african padauk good for wide panels and tabletops?
Yes, with normal precautions: its 1.6:1 tangential-to-radial ratio is unusually balanced, so panels stay flatter than most. Still fasten solid tops so they can move across their width.
Similar species
Wenge · Shagbark Hickory · Pecan (Hickory) · Pignut Hickory · Black Locust · Persimmon
Shrinkage, specific gravity, and hardness from the Wood Handbook, FPL-GTR-282 (2021 edition), USDA Forest Products Laboratory (public domain). Values are species averages — individual boards vary with growth conditions and how they were dried.