Padauk is an imported hardwood from Africa. This is probably one of the most widely known imports among the hobbyist woodworker class for its relatively low cost and brilliant coloring which ranges from pinks to dark browns with an unnaturally bright red luster. The coloring, like many species, will eventually fade to a dark red-orange brown, but with proper care, can be prolonged for a great while. Padauk is dense, hard, and strong, wood with a high durability. Grain structure is generally straight to slightly interlocked, with a course texture. Padauk has been used for anything requiring its high durability, from knife scales to hardwood flooring, and everywhere in between. It has a janka rating just shy of 2000 and weighs 4.1 pounds per board foot.
VARIATIONS AND OPTIONS
4/4 refers to lumber that was cut at 1 inch thickness
15/16ths has been skip planed (a majority of the surfacing work has been done, there may be a few spots that are still rough, but the grain of the particular piece of wood should be visible)
13/16ths is commonly called finish planed. This should be ready for sanding and finish
Ripped 1 edge is lumber that has been run through a straight-line rip saw. This allows for easy squaring on a table saw.
Sanded refers to a select few lumber options that have been run through a belt sander and are 100% finish ready.
5/4 lumber was sawn at 1.25 inches in thickness.
6/4 lumber was sawn at 1.5 inches in thickness.
8/4 lumber was sawn at 2 inches in thickness.
10/4 lumber was sawn at 2.5 inches in thickness.
12/4 lumber was sawn at 3 inches in thickness.