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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Pterocarpus macrocarpus

Trade Name
Burma padauk

Family Name
Leguminosae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Burma padauk, Mai pradoo, Mai-chi-tawk, Mai-pi-tawk, Padauk, Pradoo, Pterocarpus

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Burma, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Billiard boxes, Billiard-cue butts, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Musical instruments: strings, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Environmental Profile
Questionable
Extinct
Abundant/Secure
Endangered
Status unknown in many of its growth areas
Rare in parts of its natural range
Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center


Distribution Overview
The genus Pterocarpus is made up of about 60 species of small and large trees that are distributed in the tropical regions of the world. P. macrocarpus is common in the upper mixed and dry forests of Myanmar (Burma). It is also reported to occur in the mixed deciduous forests of Thailand, and is usually found growing in mixed stands with Teak (Tectona grandis) and Indian laurel (Terminalia tomentosa).

Heartwood Color
Yellow
White
Grey
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Reddish brown
Red
Brown
Pale red to pink
Dark brown
Red - yellowish
Red - brick
Loses intial luster and is golden brown upon exposure


Sapwood Color
Yellow
Different than heartwood
White to yellow
White/Gray
Well defined


Grain
Figure
Interlocked
Rippled (figure)
Mottled (figure)
Stripe (figure)

Rippled figure
Interlocked
Striped figure
Quartersawn surfaces show ribbon figure
Mottled figure
Interlocked


Texture
Coarse
Medium to coarse
Medium
Coarse


Luster
High
Medium
Dull
Medium to high


Natural Durability
Non-durable
Very durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Durable
Very good weathering properties
Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles
Resistant to wood staining fungal attack
Heartwood is fairly resistant to termites and other insects


Odor
Spicy scent
No distinctive taste


Light-Induced Color Change
Lighter


Toxicity
Respiratory effects
Dermatitic effects


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6
T6 - D4 (4/4) US
T3 -D8 (8/4) US
Schedule F - United Kingdom


Drying Defects
Distortion
Checking
Extension of Existing Shakes
Discoloration
Ring Shakes
Slight surface checking
Severe surface checking
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Rapidly
Reconditioning Treatement
Fairly Easy
Moderate
Air dries well with little degrade


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is misshapen


Tree Size
Bole length is 10-20 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


Product Sources
Burma padauk is available in both veneer and lumber forms from importers, but prices are typically in the costly range.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory

Blunting Effect
Little
Medium effect
Blunting effect on machining is slight
Blunting effect on machining is moderate


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly difficult to very difficult
Fairly easy to very easy
Difficult


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to very poor response to preservative treatment


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult
Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult
Seasoned wood is refractory making it difficult to saw


Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moderate gluing properties
Easy to glue
Satisfactory gluing properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor moulding results


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Very stable after kiln drying
Stable
Retain shape after manufacture

Dimensional stability is very high, and is slightly better than Teak in retaining its shape after seasoning.

Nailing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Possible if prebored
Difficult to nail


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Ease of planing is moderate
Reduction of cutting angle recommended


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Resistant sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Heartwood is highly resistant
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Heartwood is resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to Work
Difficult to machine
Poor to very poor response to preservative treatment
Moderate working qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good sanding finish
Easy to sand


Screwing
Screwing yields good results
Possible if prebored
Holds screws well


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good results
Excellent turning properties


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for slicing
Cut surfaces are usually smooth and glossy


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Takes high polish


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft.
Max. crushing strength = high
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft.
Very heavy
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Density = very high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Bending strength (MOR) = very high

It is one of the strongest and hardest of timbers from Southeast Asia, with strength properties that are considerably superior to those of Andaman padauk (P. dalbergioides ) and Burma teak (Tectona grandis ).

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1398719614psi
Density54lbs/ft3
Hardness2267lbs
Impact Strength5140inches
Maximum Crushing Strength71129943psi
Shearing Strength1883psi
Stiffness179120111000 psi
Specific Gravity0.730.77
Weight5452lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
Volumetric Shrinkage8%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength9831379kg/cm2
Density865kg/m3
Hardness1028kg
Impact Strength129101cm
Maximum Crushing Strength500699kg/cm2
Shearing Strength132kg/cm2
Stiffness1251411000 kg/cm2
Specific Gravity0.730.77
Weight865833kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3