AFRICAN PADAUK: E
This is a very attractive timber which is bright red when worked then darkening to a darker red which darkens further with age. It is an under utilised timber which is readily available in good length and width specifications.

Production: 1/SE, S/E, DIM.

Pterocarpus soyauxii
Family: Leguminosae

Other names: Camwood, Barwood and Corail.

Distribution: Central and West Tropical Africa.

General Description: The heartwood is a vivid blood red, toning down to dark purple-brown with red streaks upon exposure. The grain is straight to interlocked with moderatley coarse texture. Weight varies from 640-800kgm3 (40-50lb/ft3), average 720kg/m3 (45lb/ft3); specific gravity .72.

Mechanical Properties: The timber has excellent strength properties
especially in bending and crushing strengths with medium resistance to shock loads and stiffness.

Seasoning: Dries fairly rapidly and very well with a minimum of de-grade. The movement is exceptionally small in service.

Working Properties: Despite its weight, the wood has only a slight blunting effect on tools and machines very easily. It nails, screws, glues and polishes very well and an excellent finish is obtainable.

Durability: The heartwood is very durable and moderately resistant to preservative treatment.

Uses: This attractive wood has high strength properties, durability and outstanding stability and is ideal for high-class joinery, furniture and cabinet making. Also for fancy turnery and carvings, tool and knife handles, spirit levels, paddles and oars and agricultural implements. It has a high resistance to abrasion and makes an excellent heavy-duty flooring timber, also suitable for floors where under-floor heating has been installed because of dimensional stability. Selected logs are sliced to form very attractive decorative veneers. Renowned as a dye wood.

JBT Comments: An inexpensive timber where a consistant dark red colour is required in large clear specifications.

Grade: FAS

Specification: Square edge: 8ft and longer, 5ins and wider.

Stockholding: Limited kiln dried stocks available with larger quantities to order 3-4 weeks, in 1ins, 11/2ins, 2ins, 3ins and 4ins