DESCRIPTION:Padauk (pronounced Pa-DUKE) is certainly a hard wood to overlook -- as well as a hardwood to not overlook! When freshly cut, the wood appears bright orange to reddish-brown, and often features thin, dark streaks. When turning Padauk (Pterocarpus soyaxii), it's easy to be taken aback by the strikingly bright orange shavings flying around. Padauk cuts cleanly and is fairly easy to turn or carve. The wood also possesses a wonderful tonal resonance and is often used to make musical instruments. Padauk has a very unique reddish orange coloration. Unfortunately, this dramatic color is frequently lost due to improper or inadequate finishing. If finished properly, the orange color can be preserved for many years with little to no signs of degradation. (See the article Preventing Color Changes in Exotic Woods for more information.) Padauk is moderately heavy, strong, and stiff, with exceptional stability. Its a popular hardwood among hobbyist woodworkers because of its unique color. Some common uses for Padauk include: veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture, tool handles, and other small specialty wood objects.
BOTANICAL NAME:Padauk, African Padauk
OTHER NAMES:Pterocarpus soyauxii
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES: Heartwood color can vary, ranging from a pale pinkish orange to a deep brownish red. Most pieces tend to start reddish orange when freshly cut, darkening substantially over time to a reddish/purplish brown. Padauks initial orange coloration can be preserved through various finishing procedures; see the article Preventing Color Changes in Exotic Woods for more information.
WORKING PROPERTIES: Padauk generates a lot of dust when sanded. The dust tends to cling to clothing and skin (giving one a John Boehner-like glow!), which can sometimes trigger allergic skin reactions. As with any potentially problematic dust, it is strongly recommended to shower immediately after stopping work. The longer the dust is in contact with the skin, the greater the chances for an allergic reaction.
DURABILITY: Has excellent decay resistance, and is rated as durable to very durable. Padauk is also reported to be resistant to termites and other insects.
SEASONING: Dries well, but slowly. Variations in drying rates can occur in individual pieces. Standing trees are girdled and left to dry for three years before felling. Small movement.
USES:Extensively used in ship and boat building for decking, rails, hatches, etc. Furniture and cabinetmaking, flooring, garden furniture, chemical vats, fume ducts, laboratory benches, plywood, and decorative veneers.
DESCRIPTION:Has an orangish-brown color when freshly cut, which ages to a darker reddish-brown. Color between boards can be highly variable. There are also small yellow mineral deposits found throughout the wood, making it easier to separate from other lookalikes. (These yellow deposits are water-soluble and can cause staining.) This wood has excellent strength characteristics, along with excellent stability, making it ideally suited for use as wood flooring and other applications where strength is important. It is commonly used for furniture and other specialty wood items in southeast Asia where this wood grows naturally.
BOTANICAL NAME:Intsia spp. (I. bijuga, I. palembanica)
OTHER NAMES:Merbau, Kwila, Ipil
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES: Has a unique smell when being sawed or sanded: which can also cause irritation and sneezing.
WORKING PROPERTIES: Glues and finishes well, though it can be difficult to saw due to gumming and dulling of teeth.
DURABILITY: Merbau is reported to be very durable, and resists both rotting and insect attack.
SEASONING: Dries well, but slowly. Variations in drying rates can occur in individual pieces. Standing trees are girdled and left to dry for three years before felling. Small movement.
USES:Floor underlayment, cabinets, paneling, furniture fixtures, and general plywood.
DESCRIPTION:Our premium quality sal wood is a timber species and is ideal for commercial purpose. These malaysian sal woods give simple as well as complex design to the interiors and architectural work. Our range is slightly hard and widely used in building furniture and other industrial purposes.
BOTANICAL NAME:
OTHER NAMES:malaysian sal woods
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES: Class 2 plywood. Light Red Meranti has a density range from 25-40 pounds per cubic foot. Dark Red Meranti can range from 40-50 pounds per cubic foot.
WORKING PROPERTIES: Medium resistance to cutting tools with a severe blunting effect. Pre-drilling required for nailing. Gluing is good on freshly planed or sanded surfaces. Fine machine dust is a skin irritant. Stains well and takes a satisfactory finish, especially an oil finish.
DURABILITY: Very durable. Susceptible to insect attack. Extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
SEASONING: Dries well, but slowly. Variations in drying rates can occur in individual pieces. Standing trees are girdled and left to dry for three years before felling. Small movement.
USES:Floor underlayment, cabinets, paneling, furniture fixtures, and general plywood.
Minjur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 