African Padauk: Red Wood and a Color That Changes with Time
WOOD DICTIONARY
African padauk is memorable for its strongly reddish wood. It is an option when you want to bring a warm accent into a piece using the natural color of wood. Look beyond its initial brilliance to the deeper tones it develops over time. MORI KOUGEI: African Padauk A4 Veneer Sheet
International delivery
For delivery outside Japan, please contact MORI KOUGEI before placing your order. Shipping availability depends on the material’s species and origin, the destination, and any permits or certificates required. Any required permits or certificates must be arranged before dispatch.
The photographs are examples of the color and grain associated with each wood or figure. Every piece of natural wood is different; the sheet you receive will not have exactly the same color or grain as the photographs.
Names and basic facts
- Trade and English names
- African padauk MORI KOUGEI: African Padauk A4 Veneer Sheet / World Agroforestry Agroforestree Database Pterocarpus soyauxii
- General classification
- Fabaceae (legume family). Pterocarpus soyauxii is a representative species. Kew Pterocarpus soyauxii
- Native range of the representative species
- Tropical regions from Nigeria to west-central Africa Kew Pterocarpus soyauxii
- A4 veneer cuts
- Quarter-cut and flat-cut MORI KOUGEI: African Padauk A4 Veneer Sheet
The name padauk and its relatives
African padauk is a name used for African timbers of the genus Pterocarpus in the legume family, with Pterocarpus soyauxii as a representative species. In English it may also be spelled “African padouk.” “Padauk” alone can refer to related woods from other regions, so including “African” helps distinguish the timber you are looking for. Kew Pterocarpus soyauxii / World Agroforestry Agroforestree Database Pterocarpus soyauxii
Red is not a fixed color swatch
MORI KOUGEI introduces padauk as a red-toned wood. Its vivid freshly cut color does not necessarily remain unchanged; it becomes darker and more subdued with age. Considering the range of browner tones it may develop, rather than choosing only for its initial brightness, opens up more ways to appreciate this material. MORI KOUGEI: African Padauk A4 Veneer Sheet
For a prominent red accent, consider a broad surface such as a box lid. For a quieter effect, use it in an edging strip or a detail in marquetry. Pairing it with a pale wood is another way to show the contrast. Before cutting intricate shapes, use paper templates to estimate how much of the overall piece you want the red area to occupy.
Choose the effect of quarter-cut or flat-cut grain
The A4 sheets are available in quarter-cut and flat-cut options. A straight, linear flow and a broader, spreading grain pattern create different impressions within the same red color family. Color and veneer cut are separate choices. Rather than expecting an exact reproduction of one photograph, consider whether the reddish tone and grain direction suit the form you want to make. MORI KOUGEI: African Padauk A4 Veneer Sheet
Timber uses and working with veneer
As timber, African padauk is used in furniture and building components, among other applications. MORI KOUGEI’s A4 product, by contrast, is a 210 × 297 mm sheet approximately 0.25 mm thick, made from natural wood veneer backed with industrial washi paper. Use it to add natural color and grain to a substrate, not as a structural substitute for a thick board. World Agroforestry Agroforestree Database Pterocarpus soyauxii / MORI KOUGEI: African Padauk A4 Veneer Sheet
The product page gives examples such as covering furniture edges, repairing flat wooden surfaces, and marquetry. Bonding requires an adhesive and method suited to the substrate. Testing adhesion and the finished appearance on a small offcut also makes it easier to assess your color combinations. MORI KOUGEI: African Padauk A4 Veneer Sheet
For international orders, please contact us before ordering. Include the material name, quantity and destination in your message.
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Explore related woods
This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.
Sources
- Kew Pterocarpus soyauxii
- World Agroforestry Agroforestree Database Pterocarpus soyauxii
- MORI KOUGEI: African Padauk A4 Veneer Sheet