Reo: The Timber Also Called Dao and Paldao
Wood Dictionary
Reo is a timber also introduced under the names dao and paldao. It is sometimes called New Guinea walnut, although it belongs to a different botanical family from ordinary walnut. Following these names offers a useful way to explore the wood's character.
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.
Name and basic information
- Trade names
- Reo / Dao / Paldao Hoxan: Reo
- Commonly associated species
- Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe Kew Dracontomelon dao
- Family
- Anacardiaceae Hoxan: Reo / Kew Dracontomelon dao
- MORI KOUGEI sheet
- A4 (210 × 297 mm); approximately 0.25 mm thick; industrial washi paper backing MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
A “walnut” that is not a true walnut
Hoxan lists Reo as Paldao and includes Dao among its alternative names. Kew's entry for Dracontomelon dao likewise gives dao and paldao as common names and places the tree in Anacardiaceae. The key is not to assume that the name New Guinea walnut makes it a walnut in the Juglandaceae family. Hoxan: Reo / Kew Dracontomelon dao / MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Dracontomelon dao, the species generally associated with this timber, occurs from tropical Asia to the Solomon Islands. That broad natural distribution is different information from the individual country of harvest of a sheet we sell. This article introduces the general background of dao-related timber. Kew Dracontomelon dao
A range of color and a changing grain direction
Hoxan describes the sapwood as gray-brown and the heartwood as yellow or yellow-green, and also notes its interlocked grain. We present our sheets as brown-toned. Rather than expecting one color from the name alone, consider the combination of ground color, darker lines, and grain direction. Hoxan: Reo / MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Interlocked grain forms as the direction of the wood fibers changes in successive layers, rather than remaining aligned in one direction. When judging light and dark effects, rotate the veneer and compare it from different orientations before deciding where to place it. It can help to distinguish the visible pattern lines from the way the surface reflects light. Hoxan: Reo
Start with a small decorative surface
To introduce Reo's color and pattern, consider a simple shape that lets the grain show, such as a small box lid or part of a frame. If combining several woods, compare samples to decide whether all should have strong patterns or whether Reo would be better framed by quieter-colored surfaces.
Uses for paper-backed A4 veneer
MORI KOUGEI's A4 sheet is approximately 0.25 mm thick, combining natural wood veneer and industrial washi paper. It is bonded to a substrate to add wood character to furniture edges, repairs or refacing of flat wooden surfaces, marquetry, and similar projects. The mechanical properties of thick solid timber should not be treated as the performance of the sheet. MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
Check the cutting layout with paper templates and prepare a flat surface before gluing. Test the finish on an offcut. The material is not intended to reproduce the pattern in the product photograph: choose the area to use with the individual character of each sheet in mind. MORI KOUGEI A4 Veneer Sheet Product Information
View the Reo A4 veneer sheet ↗
Explore related woods
This article draws on publicly available sources from Japan and abroad, with AI used to support research and organization.