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. ♫ εηdεd ♫on the hunt for the rare Andaman Paduak (Pterocarpus dalbergioides)

Palaswood

Palaswood

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Joseph
I'm looking for, perhaps futilely so, some boards of the rare Andaman Padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides).

My understanding is that it used to be available about 30 years ago, but hurricanes all but wiped them out on the Andaman Islands, where they only exist.

Or anybody got any ideas on leads I could follow up, let me know!

Thanks!

JP
 
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Might have a lead. Would someone here be able to identify it? I know a guy that has about 3000+ bd. ft. of exotics that he acquired about 30 years ago. The woods must have been for the luthier industry because the few I have investigated were all related to guitar making. I know I looked at a pile of what I figured was padauk but don't remember any markings or labels. I could look closer but could someone here be able to tell the difference between African and Andaman?
@Mr. Peet
@phinds
@Palaswood
 
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Awesome @pinky - regardless of the outcome, I appreciate you chiming in.

I emailed Gary Green, the name listed on the sample on phinds site Hobbit House inc, to purchase the samples listed on garys wood sample site, so we can be sure it's andaman, if it comes to that. Gosh I hope it comes to that.
 
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Here are the end grain comparisons of images of African Padauk (1st image) and Andaman Padauk (2nd image )
Also is Burma Padauk, (last image) .

For the Andaman, what jumps out is the enormous cluster of pores that is not present in the others, so hopefully that is a trait that is always present in Andaman Padauk.

paduak, african.JPG
African Padauk ^
paduak, andaman.JPG
Andaman Padauk ^
paduak, burma.JPG
Burma Padauk ^
 
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Ill get over there next week to investigate for you. Is this for luthier work and if so, anything else you want me to look for while I'm there?
 
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pinky said:
Ill get over there next week to investigate for you. Is this for luthier work and if so, anything else you want me to look for while I'm there?
Click to expand...
No @pinky its hopefully for a cabinet or small furniture piece. If andaman ill sell the farm to get as much as i can. Im a wood haorder but i have plans for about every stick i have. So thats all im after currently. When i get on the hunt im hard to stop
 
I've never paid attention to the differences among the various species sold as padauk, mainly because my primary reference source is not very helpful in distinguishing them. Here are the links to the pages for the 3 species shown on my site:

http://images.lib.ncsu.edu/luna/servlet/view/search?QuickSearchA=QuickSearchA&q=="Modern+Wood"+Pterocarpus+soyauxii&search=Search
http://images.lib.ncsu.edu/luna/servlet/view/search?QuickSearchA=QuickSearchA&q=="Modern+Wood"+Pterocarpus+dalbergioides&search=Search
http://images.lib.ncsu.edu/luna/servlet/view/search?QuickSearchA=QuickSearchA&q=="Modern+Wood"+Pterocarpus+macrocarpus&search=Search

As you'll see, the differences shown in the samples on my site are considerably larger than what appears in this reference site, so I'm not sure what's up with that.
 
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Many years ago I bought a slab of what the guys at Berea Hardwoods said was, "something in the pterocarpus genus" but they couldn't make out the specific species so they just called it Cambodian Paduak burl since it came from the jungles of Cambodia. Downright cool looking stuff. Another one of those many times I've looked back and said, "I shouldn't bought more."

In one of Krenov's books he states that when you find a particularly good stash of wood to, "buy all you can afford and then, buy a little more".
 
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@Steve Smith HA! it's funny that you say that. I got my urge for this Andaman Padauk FROM a James Krenov book "Cabinetmakers Notebook", which I just read, and it's such a fantastic read for woodworkers or makers of any kind, that find it a struggle to balance the craft with the philosophy of treating the wood in the way it deserves to be treated, among much else. I'll be getting his other books as well.

Apparently Andaman paduak is only found in the Andaman islands. There is Burma padauk (Pterocaprus Macrocarpus) in addition to standard Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii). Since Burma paduak is also found in Thailand (SE Asia) thats probably what it was, if it was from Cambodia.

Actually the piece on the cover is a jewelry box in Andaman padauk, which he states he made from the very last of his rare supply (that was in the 7os i think). I'm onto a lead, just waiting to hear back. I'll clue you guys in once I get confirmation (and get mine first lol)

cabinetmakersnotebook.JPG
 
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Found out that M. Bohlke Veneer corp has 185 bd ft of Andaman Padauk left in stock. 4/4 8" boards x 10-11 ft @ $20 /bd ft with a $500 min order and they dont do any cutting. Seems freight deliver would be required. It's a big investment
 
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I cant afford to order 500 bucks worth. Dont go out of your way but if youre gonna be there anyways snap a pic or two and find out how much he wants for a few boards
 
I'm curious how much demand there is for the stuff. I've been aware of it for years, but never was all that interested in buying any. Considering that the appearance isn't that far from African paduak and the price is considerably higher, I don't find it all that surprising that they have been sitting on it for a while.
 
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yeah @Steve Smith you got a point there. Maybe I should use up the African Padauk I have before buying something so similar. I get caught up in the rarity of a thing... sometimes it's worth the cost, and sometimes not
 
@Palaswood I'm right there with ya. Several years ago B&B Rare Woods got hold of a significant supply of old stock Brazilian Rosewood veneer. 17" wide and 8' long. I spent $900 buying up some of the best of what they had........still sitting in a box sealed up waiting for who knows what project. And that 57 lb slab of Amboyna burl.....and .......
 
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