Posts: 286
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2012
Grabbed a board from my stash for a small project. I'm sure I never bought, so I don't know what species it might be. Maybe a friend put it there.
Straight grain, open pores, similar to QS oak, but it smells SWEET, like chocolate or vanilla (I know, those two oders are not similar.) Very heavy and dense. Deep dark red/orange; as dark as black walnut, but not brown. When sanded, the sandpaper looks like it has carrot dust on it. A hand plane glides smoothly when going with the grain, but roughs up the surface when going against the grain.
No need to ask for a photo. It would look like a dark board.
Posts: 64
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2007
Sounds like Padauk. Do not mix it with a lighter wood, the dust cross pollinates really bad
Posts: 22,324
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Oakdale, MN
Thats it.
I agree about the dust.....its like its dye. I made a box that was Paduak and Curly Maple and the Paduak bled into the CM like its was dye when Shellac was sprayed on it. I just went with it, and rubbed on shellac and the maple took on the orange, and it was kind unique. But yea, if you didn't want that, you would be angry.
I have some rough Paduak that is almost black it was oxidized so much (must be really old) but when you cross cut it, it just screams orange.
Once Favre hangs it up though, it years of cellar dwelling for the Pack. (Geoff 12-18-07)
Posts: 10,717
Threads: 1
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Orlando, Florida
Sounds like padauk to me as well. The dust from sanding is persistent, and it'll cling to just about anything it comes in contact with. I highly recommend wearing a shop apron if you're going to mill it or sand it in any way. Padauk, over time turns from a medium orange to brown, similar to walnut. If you cut it, you'll expose the brighter orange color.
Still Learning,
Allan Hill
Posts: 3,181
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2009
Color sounds like Paduak, but the sweet odor, that sounds like Bocote.
True power makes no noise - Albert Schweitzer. It's obvious he was referring to hand tools
Posts: 286
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2012
Thank you, Guys. Paduak it seems to be. Yes, the bright orange sawdust is sticky as can be, and interesting to hear that the color bleeds. I made small kitchen utencils out of it, meaning long tongs to pull hot bagels or short bread out of the toaster.
Posts: 10,717
Threads: 1
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: Orlando, Florida
BaileyNo5 said:
Color sounds like Paduak, but the sweet odor, that sounds like Bocote.
Bocote is not open-grained, though, and the dust is more of a cream color. I agree, the dust is very sticky, but it's definitely not bright orange. Bocote has quite a bit of contrast in the grain, varying from light to dark.
Still Learning,
Allan Hill
Posts: 366
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2009
Pleased to see this thread. It confirms that a 48"x12"x2" board I bought in a junk yard about 20 years ago is indeed padauk. I've yet to find a use for it but have been toying with the idea of making some boxes and lining them with it to give a surprise (and hopefully) delight when opened. My theory is that, in this situation, the orange colour will be retained in the absence of light. Anyone know if this will work?
Jim
Posts: 6,179
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Bothell, WA
if you are referring to african paduak and not andaman paduak, then, yes, the color will change if exposed to UV, but will be stable when not exposed to any direct or indirect light.
Cellulose runs through my veins!
