What's This Timber?

[billw]

The reddish one in the crossbeam. Might well have been treated or dyed, but just in case it's natural I'd love to know what has that bold colour.

 

[marcros]

padauk possibly. there are a few others (eg bloodwood) with a similar colour but that would be my first guess. It will fade to a brown colour over time.

 

[custard]

Another vote for Padauk (pronounced PADOOK).

But, as Marcros said, using many of these boldly coloured timbers for their colour is a bit of a wild goose chase. Sure, you get the Instagram wow factor, but ten years later it's just a muddy brown.

If you want a timber that actually improves with age then consider American Cherry (or indeed any fruitwood-but American Cherry is by far the easiest fruitwood to source). A couple of years in a sunny room and you'll have deep rich colour and exquisite patination. It's one of the many reasons why American Cherry is an excellent choice for a newbie woodworker venturing into hardwoods.

 

[billw]

padauk possibly. there are a few others (eg bloodwood) with a similar colour but that would be my first guess. It will fade to a brown colour over time.

That was on my list of potential answers.

Another vote for Padauk (pronounced PADOOK).

But, as Marcros said, using many of these boldly coloured timbers for their colour is a bit of a wild goose chase. Sure, you get the Instagram wow factor, but ten years later it's just a muddy brown.

Well it seems that's the verdict! I was hoping the answer wasn't padauk as I've already seen what it looks like after five years on a YT video where the maker had some aged examples. As you say, good for showcasing on instagram.

American cherry is one of three "core" timbers for my potential projects, ABW and either maple or sycamore being the others.

 

[doctor Bob]

Maple will go very yellow sometimes with age. Stick with sycamore as your white wood.

 

[sunnybob]

Bubinga. Very red, stays red. I use it a lot. look through my pics on the sig link. Almost all of the red boxes are bubinga, only a couple are padauk.
Padauk dust is bright orange. bubinga dust is dark brown.