African Padauk
Scientific name:
Pterocarpus soyauxii
Other Common Names:
Mbe
Mbil (Cameroon)
Ngula
Bosulu (Zaire)
Barwood
Comwood
Corail
African coralwood
Muenge
Mututi
Vermillion
Yomo
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African padauk is reported to be relatively protected within its natural habitat in most regions including, Congo, but it is formally categorized as Vulnerable in Cameroon. The tree is reported to reach heights of 100 to 130 feet (30 to 40 m), with trunk diameters that are usually 24 to 48 inches (60 to 120 cm), but may sometimes reach 60 inches (150 cm). Boles are often straight and cylindrical, and are clear of branches to about 70 feet (21 m).
Weight:
Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.55 to 0.67; air-dry density 42 to 51 pcf.
Uses:
Fantabulous turning wood – utilized for fancy turnery such as knife and tool handles. Also prized for high end cabinets, furniture, carving, veneer, inlay, flooring, dyewood, joinery, dowels, shuttles, spindles, paddles, and boat building.
General Characteristics:
Heartwood vivid red when recently cut darkening to a purple brown on exposure; sapwood 4 to 8 in. wide, whitish to brown yellow, distinct. Texture coarse; grain upright to interlocked; lustrous; faint aromatic fragrance when freshly cut. Sawdust could cause respiratory troubles.
Working Properties:
Saws well simply requires slow feed, easy to machine but with a few tearing of interlocked grain, carries an effective finish, glues easily and holds nails and screws satisfactorily. Stock in smaller dimensions may split in screwing. Carbide-tipped tools are recommended.
Sanding qualities are reported to be generally good. The wood is reported to take finishes well, but there is a tendency to bleed. Water-based finishes have been reported to hold color better.
Drying and Shrinkage:
Dries very well with a minimum of degrade. Kiln schedule T10-D5S is suggested for 4/4 stock and T8-D4S for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 3.3%; tangential 5.2%; volumetric 7.6%. Movement in service is very small.
Durability:
The heartwood is rumored to be very long-wearing and might last for more than 25 years in get hold of with the ground without any preservative treatment. It is very resistant to assault by termite also fairly resistant to preservative treatments; sapwood moderately resistant. African padauk also resists dents well. It is a heavy wood, with density.
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