African Padauk as an Epoxy Table Wood
African Padauk—comprising the botanical species Pterocarpus osun and Pterocarpus soyauxii of the family Fabaceae—is widely known across the timber trade by names such as Padouk d’afrique, Padoek, Barwood, Camwood, and Corail. Sourced from producing countries across Central and West Africa such as Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo, this hardwood offers a striking appearance combined with high dimensional stability. Based on technical documentation from the CIRAD Tropix research series, this guide covers the physical properties, workability, and mechanical specs you need to consider before embedding African Padauk in an epoxy river table.
Appearance, Grain, and Figure
The heartwood of African Padauk displays a vivid red color when freshly cut, though the CIRAD Tropix data sheet notes that it turns to a purplish brown upon exposure to light. The sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood and measures between 6 to 10 cm in thickness on logs that range from 60 to 100 cm in diameter. The wood texture is coarse, and the grain is straight or interlocked, with the interlocked grain described as marked. For live-edge river tables, the stark demarcation between the lighter sapwood and the vibrant red heartwood creates dramatic visual boundaries along the resin channel.
Weight, Hardness, and Mechanical Strength
Padauk is a dense, heavy hardwood with an average specific gravity of 0.79 at 12% moisture content. In workshop terms, that equals roughly 49.3 lb/ft³, meaning a 2-inch-thick tabletop slab weighs about 8.2 lb per square foot. When designing sturdy table legs and trestle bases, this weight must be factored into the overall support structure.
Hardness is measured on the French Monnin scale, where African Padauk scores an 8.3 at 12% moisture content. On the Monnin scale, higher values represent harder timber (it is not a Janka rating and should never be confused with one). Complementing this surface hardness, African Padauk demonstrates notable strength across standard mechanical metrics:
- Crushing strength: 65 MPa (approximately 9,430 psi)
- Static bending strength (MOR): 116 MPa (approximately 16,820 psi)
- Modulus of elasticity (MOE): 15,870 MPa (approximately 2,302,000 psi)
Shrinkage, Stability, and Epoxy River Integration
Wood movement is one of the most critical factors when pouring deep epoxy rivers. When wood expands or contracts unevenly against a cured, rigid polymer core, internal stresses can lead to separation along the bond line or cupping across the tabletop. African Padauk displays remarkably low shrinkage values:
- Total tangential shrinkage: 5.0%
- Total radial shrinkage: 3.2%
- Tangential to radial ratio (St/Sr): 1.6
- Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage: 0.44% per 1% change in moisture content
- Fibre saturation point: 21%
A tangential-to-radial shrinkage ratio of 1.6 is close to 1, indicating a very low tendency toward cupping. Combined with a modest volumetric shrinkage rate of 0.44% per percent moisture change, dry Padauk boards remain exceptionally stable alongside cured epoxy in climate-controlled indoor spaces.
Drying Behavior and Kiln Schedules
CIRAD Tropix rates the drying speed of African Padauk as normal to slow. Importantly for slab builders, the risk of distortion is rated as “no risk or very slight risk,” and the risk of checking is likewise “no risk or very slight risk.” There is no known specific risk of collapse or casehardening during seasoning. For kiln drying, suggested drying schedules recommend starting temperatures around 48 °C (about 118 °F) for higher moisture contents, gradually stepping up to 60 °C (about 140 °F) during the final stages.
Machining, Fasteners, and Shop Safety
Working Padauk requires stout tooling. The CIRAD Tropix sheet reports that the wood exerts a fairly high blunting effect on cutters, requiring sufficient machine power. The use of stellite-tipped saw teeth and tungsten carbide cutting edges is recommended. Woodworkers may also encounter difficulties during surfacing due to the marked interlocked grain, which can lead to tearout if feed rates and blade sharpness are not carefully managed.
For fasteners, screwing and nailing qualities are good, but pre-boring is strictly necessary to avoid splits, especially when handling thinner boards. Table builders attaching steel mounting plates or C-channels must pre-drill pilot holes to accommodate the wood’s density and split risk. Additionally, the CIRAD Tropix notes observe that Padauk sawdust can sometimes be an irritant, making dedicated dust extraction and personal respiratory protection essential during milling and sanding.
Durability, Trade Uses, and CITES Status
The natural durability of African Padauk heartwood is exceptionally high. CIRAD classifies its resistance to xylophagous fungi as Durability Class 1 (very durable), while dry-wood borer and termite resistance are both Class D (durable). The wood qualifies naturally for Use Class 4 (in ground or fresh water contact). Common industrial and artisanal end-uses listed in the technical sheet include high-class cabinetwork, interior and exterior joinery, sliced veneer, heavy flooring, indoor staircases, turnery, sculpture, and ship building.
Regarding trade regulations, species of the genus Pterocarpus are listed in Appendix II of CITES (Washington Convention 2025). For African Padauk, only African populations are subject to these regulations, covering logs, sawn wood, veneer, plywood, and engineered wood products.
| Property | CIRAD Tropix value | What it means / US units |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Pterocarpus osun, Pterocarpus soyauxii | |
| Other trade names | Barwood, Camwood, Corail, Padauk, Padoek, Padouk d'afrique | |
| Colour / texture / grain | Red; texture coarse; grain straight or interlocked; interlocked grain marked | |
| Specific gravity (12% MC) | 0.79 | about 49.3 lb/ft³; a 2-inch-thick slab weighs about 8.2 lb per sq ft |
| Monnin hardness (12% MC) | 8.3 | French hardness scale; higher = harder (not a Janka value) |
| Total tangential shrinkage | 5.0 % | green to oven-dry |
| Total radial shrinkage | 3.2 % | green to oven-dry |
| Ratio St/Sr | 1.6 | closer to 1 = less cupping tendency |
| Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage | 0.44 % per % MC | volume change per 1% change in moisture content |
| Fibre saturation point | 21 % | |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.26 W/(m·K) | |
| Crushing strength (12% MC) | 65 MPa | about 9,430 psi |
| Static bending strength (12% MC) | 116 MPa | about 16,820 psi |
| Modulus of elasticity (12% MC) | 15,870 MPa | about 2,302,000 psi |
| Decay (fungi) resistance | Durability class 1 – very durable | |
| Termite resistance | Class D – durable | |
| Dry-wood borer resistance | Class D – durable (sapwood demarcated, risk limited | |
| Heartwood treatability | Class 2 – moderately permeable | |
| Use class from natural durability | Class 4 – in ground or fresh water contact | |
| Drying | rate normal to slow; distortion: no risk or very slight risk; checking: no risk or very slight risk; collapse: no known specific risk; casehardening: no known specific risk | |
| Suggested kiln program temperatures | 48–60 °C | about 118–140 °F |
| Machining | blunting fairly high; saw teeth: stellite-tipped; cutting tools: tungsten carbide | |
| Nailing and screwing | Good but pre-boring necessary | |
| CITES status | The species of the genus Pterocarpus are listed in Appendix II of CITES (Washington Convention 2025). Only African populations are concerned. The products concerned are logs, sawn wood, veneer, plywood and engineered wood. P. santalinus species is concerned only with logs, chips, powder and extracts. |
Values from the CIRAD Tropix technical sheet (average values for mature wood, 12% moisture content where noted). US-unit conversions are calculated by BigEpoxy (1 MPa = 145.04 psi; density = specific gravity × 62.43 lb/ft³).
Is African Padauk a Good Epoxy Table Wood?
African Padauk is an outstanding species for custom epoxy river tables and high-end furniture tops. Its exceptionally low shrinkage values, minimal risk of drying distortion or checking, and balanced shrinkage ratio (1.6) make it one of the most stable exotic hardwoods to cast alongside resin. While its marked interlocked grain and tool-blunting tendencies require sharp carbide tooling, and its sawdust requires good ventilation, its natural hardness (Monnin 8.3) and striking red heartwood provide both mechanical reliability and exceptional visual contrast.
Sources
Published October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original graphic by BigEpoxy.com.
Staff note: Although African Padauk heartwood boasts Class 1 fungal durability and Class D borer resistance, the technical sheet notes that borer risk is limited to the sapwood; builders leaving thick sapwood on live-edge river slabs should inspect that outer 6 to 10 cm perimeter thoroughly before pouring epoxy. (Source: CIRAD Tropix 7 technical sheet: African Padauk.)