Padauk Wood
Padauk wood is known for its durability, strength, and stability properties. Its properties make it a versatile wood, it is used for various purposes.
Padauk is a common name of several (35 species is currently accepted) species. The names of some special species are as follows: African Padauk, Burma Padauk, Andaman Padauk, and more.
Pterocarpus is a large, fast-growing, evergreen to deciduous tree, native to African and Asian origin (southern China, Japan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the western Pacific Islands).
Teak Wood
Teak is a great hardwood known for making high-quality outdoor and indoor furniture. There are many reasons to use teak wood, such as it has a great appearance, natural rot, and water resistance properties.
There are many types of teak, some main species are as follows: Chinese teak, Brazilian teak, South American Teak, and more.
Tectona grandis is a large, fast-growing, deciduous tree, native to south and southeast Asia, mainly Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Latin America.
| # | Padauk Wood | Teak Wood |
| Scientific name: | Pterocarpus | Tectona grandis |
| Tree Height | 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m) trunk diameter | 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter |
| Wood Color: | Bright red/orange | Golden or medium brown |
| Workability: | Easy to work | Easy to work |
| Durability: | Very durable | Very durable |
| Rot Resistant: | Resistant to termites and other insects. | Naturally Resistant to termites and insects. |
| Types: | Hardwood | Hardwood |
| Uses: | Veneer, flooring, turned objects, musical instruments, furniture | Ship and boat building, veneer, furniture, exterior construction |
Padauk Wood Uses
- Flooring: Padauk is high-paid durable, stable, and long-wearing wood for making quality flooring. Padauk floors are naturally resistant to termites and other insects. Its sufficient hardness prevents scratches and dents.
- Musical Instruments: African Padauk wood is truly tonal wood. It has been used in the making of guitar necks and other musical instruments since the 17th century and it’s still popular.
- Furniture: African padauk is a very durable, and shock-resistant wood. It doesn’t readily decay. Padauk Wood is one of the great choices to make the best quality furniture.
- Tools handles and wooden objects: Padauk wood is shock resistant and the finish is good. It can be easily carved.
- Other Uses: Veneer and other small decorative wood objects.
Teak Wood Uses
- Furniture: Teak wood is popular for making high prized quality indoor and outdoor furniture. It is naturally rotting and insect resistant. So it required minimum maintenance and care.
- Boat Building: Teak wood has a high natural oil content. Teak’s oily surface makes it better to withstand moisture and weather. Therefore it is a suitable wood for making boats and boat parts. Burmese Teak is a great option for boat building.
- Decking: Burmese Teak is considered the best teak for decking. It requires ultra-low maintenance Because it can easily withstand weather and moisture.
- Plywood: Teak wood is a beautiful, expensive wood, it is used to make plywood, which costs less than solid teak wood.
- Other Uses: Carving, turnings, and other small wood objects.
Wood Color/Grain
Padauk wood color/Grain
The heartwood of Padauk wood is pale orange or a deep brown-red color and the sapwood ranges from white to yellowish-brown. After cutting wood and exposure to UV light, wood will darken to a rich brown or deep maroon over time.
Padauk wood has straight grains, But sometimes there may also be wavy or interlocked grain with a coarse, open texture and good natural luster.
Teak wood color/Grain
The heartwood of teak wood is golden/honey brown or medium brown and the sapwood is creamy white. After exposure to the elements wood changes color from honey brown to silver-gray patina.
Generally teak wood has straight grains, But sometimes there may also be wavy or interlocked grain. Teak contains natural oil, So the unfinished surface feels slightly oily or greasy.
Workability
Working with Padauk Wood
Padauk wood is easy to work with. But due to the high density and interlocked grain of some Padauk species, It can be difficult to work with. Padauk turns and finishes well. Many people believe that, Due to the oily surface, it does not glue and stain well.
Working with Teak Wood
Generally, Teak wood is easy to work with machines and hand tools. But keep in mind that teak contains a high level of silica (up to 1.4%). Due to the presence of silica and high density, the blade becomes dull quickly. Carbide tipped blades are considered suitable for working with teak wood.
The teak is dense and wavy or interlocked. So it cuts great but at a slower feed rate.
Padauk Wood vs Teak Wood Rot Resistance
Padauk
Wood is stable and highly durable. It has excellent decay resistance properties. Padauk is also resistant to termites and other insects. Therefore it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor purposes.
Teak Wood
Teak is one of the most durable and stable woods. It is rot-resistant and water-resistant. Due to its natural oil content, it protects the wood from moisture and insects.
Teak wood is a good choice to make garden furniture. It can withstand the weather very well.
The average lifespan of teak furniture can be around 70 to 100 years. Well, the lifespan also depends on your care and maintenance.
Padauk Wood Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Color Options: Padauk wood is available in many color options. Such as pale pinkish-orange to a deep brownish-red and pale golden yellow to a deeper reddish-brown. | Odor: Padauk has a faint, pleasing scent while being worked. |
| Durable: Heartwood is rated as durable to very durable. | Allergies/Toxicity: Reactions include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. |
| Grain Pattern: Usually straight with an open texture and good natural luster. | Interlocked Grain: interlocked grain patterns can be difficult to work with. |
| Rot Resistance: Resistant to termites and other insects | Expensive: It is a bit more expensive than other hardwoods |
Teak Wood Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Appearance: Teak wood is known for its great brown color, it shows better in both finish and unfinished form. | Workability: Blade cutting can be difficult due to the presence of silica. Due to the oily surface, the stain also does not get done very well. |
| Durability: Teak wood is considered to be one of the durable woods. | Allergies/Toxicity: Some problems have been observed working with teaks, such as pink eye, rash, nausea, asthma-like symptoms. |
| Rot Resistance: Teak is also resistant to termites and other insects. | Availability: Sometimes it is difficult to meet due to high demand. |
| Versatile: It can be easily used for multiple purposes. | Interlocked Grain: interlocked grain patterns can be difficult to work with. |
| Low Care: Teak is a rough and tough wood that requires low care and maintenance. | Expensive: It is more expensive than other hardwoods. |