hardwood · Pterocarpus soyauxii
African Padauk wood properties
Also known as: vermillion.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Pterocarpus soyauxii |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,895,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.69 |
| Density (approx) | 43 lb/ft³ (3.6 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 1,710 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 5% / 3.1% |
| Region | Central and tropical west Africa |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of African Padauk weighs about 14.4 lb (roughly 43 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 1,710 lbf is harder than about 74% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles.
Durability: Durable to very durable, with strong decay resistance and good defense against termites and other insects.
Workability: Usually easy, though quartersawn or interlocked grain may tear; turns and glues well, with large pores needing filling.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to African Padauk:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (cites USDA FPL Wood Handbook). SG given as a range; midrange value used. Not in the FPL/Hoadley dimensional-change table, so movement coefficients are omitted. Uses, region, durability, workability summarized from The Wood Database. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd, specificGravity.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.