Pterocarpus Soyauxii (African padauk)

Scientific Name
Pterocarpus soyauxii

Trade Name
African padauk

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Pterocarpus delevoyi, Pterocarpus osun, Pterocarpus tinctorius

Common Names
Africaans padoek, African coral wood, African padauk, Afrik padouk, Afrikanisches korallenholz, Afrikanisches padoik, Akume, Arapka, Ba, Barrwood, Barwood, Bo, Bois corail, Bois de rose, Bois rouge, Bois ulu, Boko, Boku, Bosulu, Bou, Camwood, Corail, Ebeu, Epein, Epion, Escio, Ezigo, Gula, Kisese, Kisesi, Koula, M’bio, Mbe, Mbel, Mbeu, Mbie, Mbil, Mbili, Mohingue, Mongola, Muenge, Mukula, Mututi, N’gola, N’gula, N’kula, Ndimbo, Ngula, Nve, Osun, Ozigo, Padouk, Padouk d’Afrique, Palorojo, Red santal, Redwood, Santal rouge, Tacula, Takula, Tizeze, Uhie, Uhile, Ukpa, Vermillion, Wele, Yomo

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Zaire

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Bobbins, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Dyewood , Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Musical instruments: strings, Oars, Office furniture, Paddles, Parquet flooring, Picker sticks, Plywood, Posts, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shade rollers, Shafts/Handles, Shuttles, Specialty items, Spindles, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
The genus Pterocarpus occurs throughout the tropical regions of the world. P. soyauxii is found in Central and tropical West Africa, extending from south-western Nigeria to Zaire. It often grows in small groups and is common in dense equatorial rain forests.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Durability

Odor

Light-Induced Color Change

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Logs may be held for long periods without splitting or checking

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Product Sources
The ITTO reports that this species is frequent source of timber which is exported in low quantities and only occasionally.

African padauk is available in both lumber and veneer forms on the market in North America, but prices are typically in the high range.

Availability in long lengths, wide boards, and in veneer form is rather limited on the European market, but prices are comparable to that of the lower cost hardwoods.

Certified Source

Comments
Crystal deposits are usually present

General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48

Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal]

Bertin, A., Meniaud, J.,1949,Timbers of the Cameroons,Compagnie Francais du Cameroon,(Transl. by F.Jane)

Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers – the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin.

British Woodworking Federation. 1995. Which Wood . Published by the British Woodworking Federation, Broadway House, Tothill Street, London.

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38

Fouarge, J., Gerard, G.,1964,Bois du Mayumbe,I.N.E.A.C. Belguim

Fouarge, J.,1950,Appropriation de Bois Congolais aux Besoins de la Metropole,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.38

Fouarge, J.,1953,Bois du Congo,I.N.E.A.C.

Fougerousse, M., Deschamps, P.,1968,Essais de Resistance de quelques Bois Tropicaux aux Xylophages Marins dans,la,Port de la Pallice,C.T.F.T. Note Technique,No.7

France – C.T.F.T.,1960,Resultats des Observations et des Essais Effectues au CTFT sur le,Padouk,C.T.F.T. Infor. Tec.,No.114

France – C.T.F.T.,1966,Bois Tropicaux,C.T.F.T. Publ.,12

France – C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers – New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets

Gutierrez Oliva, A., Plaza Pulgar, F.,1967,Caracteristicas fisico-mecanicas de las maderas Espanolas. (Physical and,mechanical properties of Spanish timbers.,Min.Agric./Dir.Gen Montes/Instituto Forestral de Investigaciones,y,Experiencias, Madrid pp102

Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32

HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data

ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 – Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France.

Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook – The Woodworker’s Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Kaiser, J. Wood of the Month: Padauk – A Red Wood by Another Name. Wood & Wood Products, July, 1990. Page 68.

Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Kline, M. 1982. Pterocarpus soyauxii – African padauk. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 299.

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d’Afrique dans l’Industrie,Publ. de l’Agence Gen. des Colonies

NWFA. 1994. Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring. Technical Publication No. A200. National Wood Flooring Association, Manchester, MO.

Organisation for European Economic Co-operation,1951,African Tropical Timber (Nomenclature, Description,OEEC

Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l’Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23

Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1959,Survey of Africa Woods 4,Tropical Woods 17(110) pp42-115

Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7

Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]