Padauk Wood Pen Blanks - Vibrant African Exotic Hardwood

Product Specifications

Blank Sizes: Each pen blank is a minimum of 5" long × 3/4" × 3/4" square.

Material: Genuine Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii) — a beautiful, vibrant African exotic hardwood.

Material Story

These stunning pen blanks are made from genuine **Padauk**, one of the most visually striking exotic hardwoods available. Freshly cut Padauk displays a brilliant orange to deep red color that naturally darkens over time into rich reddish-brown and purple tones, creating a beautiful, evolving finish.

Sourced from Central and West Africa, this dense hardwood features a straight to interlocked grain with a fine, uniform texture that turns exceptionally well. Its natural beauty, combined with excellent stability and workability, makes Padauk a favorite among woodturners for creating bold, eye-catching pens and other fine turned projects.

Each blank is carefully selected for color, figure, and quality, delivering a premium turning experience and a finished piece that stands out with warmth and character.

About Padauk Wood

Padauk, also known as African Padauk or Vermillion, is a premium exotic hardwood belonging to the Pterocarpus genus. It grows primarily in the tropical forests of Central and West Africa, including countries such as Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, and Nigeria.

Known for its vibrant natural color, Padauk starts as a bright orange-red when freshly cut and gradually matures into deep reddish-brown or purplish hues with exposure to light and air. It has a Janka hardness rating of approximately 1,970 lbf, making it very durable and resistant to wear. The wood is stable, with excellent dimensional stability, and features a straight to interlocked grain with a fine, even texture.

Highly prized by woodturners, furniture makers, and instrument builders, Padauk offers outstanding polish and a natural luster that enhances its dramatic appearance. It is also naturally resistant to insects and decay, adding to its long-term value.

Working with Padauk means creating with a truly dynamic wood — one that changes beautifully over time and produces finished pieces with rich, warm character and timeless appeal.