THE ACCURATERELOADING.COM GUNSMITHING FORUM


Moderators: jeffeosso
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
African Padauk for stocks
 Login/Join
 
One of Us
Picture of Wink
posted
Have any of you with riflestocking experience and knowledge of woods ever worked with African Padauk? The link below gives a brief description of the wooD. I have seen it several times in Central Africa and like the color but don't know if it is suitable for a stock.
http://www.exotichardwoods-africa.com/paduakafrican.htm


_________________________________

AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim.
 
Posts: 7046 | Location: Rambouillet, France | Registered: 25 June 2004Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of Bill Soverns
posted Hide Post
Its heavier than Walnut and has less tensile strength. I wouldnt use it but thats not to say it could not be done.
 
Posts: 1268 | Location: Newell, SD, USA | Registered: 07 December 2001Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of El Deguello
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Wink:
Have any of you with riflestocking experience and knowledge of woods ever worked with African Padauk? The link below gives a brief description of the wooD. I have seen it several times in Central Africa and like the color but don't know if it is suitable for a stock.
http://www.exotichardwoods-africa.com/paduakafrican.htm


It is better for grip caps and forend tips than for a complete stock. I use it for end plugs in things like powder horns, etc. It is very easy to carve and shape, takes a nice finish, and seems to be tough rather than brittle. Pretty wood!


"Bitte, trinks du nicht das Wasser. Dahin haben die Kuhen gesheissen."
 
Posts: 4386 | Location: New Woodstock, Madison County, Central NY | Registered: 04 January 2005Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of ROSCOE
posted Hide Post
My PH had a custom stock on his rifle made out of this wood. It looked great but was very heavy.


******************************************************************
R. Lee Ermey: "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle."
******************************************************************
We're going to be "gifted" with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don't, Which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents, written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that didn't read it but exempted themselves from it, and signed by a President, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, for which we'll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect, by a government which has already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke!!!!! 'What the hell could possibly go wrong?'
 
Posts: 2122 | Location: Arkansas | Registered: 03 June 2000Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
i made one years ago for a guy on a mauser in 243 if i remember right. it turned out nice but was rather tough to get the pores to fill. it was heavy though. it is one of the exotic woods that has caused me skin irratations.
 
Posts: 982 | Location: Shenandoah Valley VA | Registered: 05 January 2005Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of Ivan
posted Hide Post
Not a rifle stock... but I built my kitchen cabinets out of it. Well the fronts anyway.

I will say this... It is one of the nicest woods to work with that I've ever used. But it's heavy, and will darken over time. Much easier to work with than say oak or walnut, but a little harder than maple, due to the inconsistency and reverse graining. I think it would make a very sutible stock though.
 
Posts: 577 | Location: The Green Fields | Registered: 11 February 2003Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
Wink,

Since you get to travel extensively through Africa, you might want to also consider a piece of Bubinga for a stock.
It is heavier also, but would be great for a larger bore rifle.
Bubinga varies quite a bit in figure. I saw a piece in Florida that was full of marbling that looked terrific.

I have a stock made of Cocobolo that is similar in density (35 Whelen Improved) that has been terrific.

Garrett
 
Posts: 987 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 23 June 2003Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Wink
posted Hide Post
I understand bubinga isn't dimensionnally stable, constantly moving with changes in humidity. I have seen alot of it but I don't know if it's appropriate for a rifle stock. I'll check it out.


_________________________________

AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim.
 
Posts: 7046 | Location: Rambouillet, France | Registered: 25 June 2004Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Riodot
posted Hide Post
Padauk is a wood that is beautiful but if you use it, wear a dust mask when you cut and sand.

It has a fine sanding dust and powders even when cut. It causes skin irratation for some. Breathing in exotic wood dust can cause permanent breathing problems over time.

I planned to use it in a lamination with walnut and purple heart. I never thought about a stock in full padauk. I have never seen any pieces that were big enough or had anything but straght grain and no character(great color though)


Lance

Lance Larson Studio

lancelarsonstudio.com
 
Posts: 933 | Location: Casa Grande, AZ | Registered: 11 June 2005Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
Wink,

I haven't yet worked with Bubinga, but I am told (by qualified woodworkers) that it becomes stable if properly dried.

It's a wood that I would consider for kiln drying after a year of air drying first.

Garrett
 
Posts: 987 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 23 June 2003Reply With Quote
<9.3x62>
posted
I made some cutting boards out of it sometime ago. Very pretty, nice grain flow, very hard, and on the heavy side. About the redest saw dust you've ever seen - could have made a dye out of it I bet.

Perhaps "zebra wood" would be another interesting, albeit veyr different, choice...
 
Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Riodot
posted Hide Post
Zebra wood would look incredible but God is it pourous.

Filling the grain would be a bit of work.


Lance

Lance Larson Studio

lancelarsonstudio.com
 
Posts: 933 | Location: Casa Grande, AZ | Registered: 11 June 2005Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
I've done a couple non-gun products in Paduak. I like the way it works but the color changes signifigantly over time. I don't think it a suitable wood for gunstocks..................DJ


....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!..................
 
Posts: 3976 | Location: Oklahoma,USA | Registered: 27 February 2004Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
riodot,
i made a stock out of zebra wood. you are correct it takes forever to get the pores filled. because of the pore size i don't believe it would checker all that well so i didn't even try it.
max
 
Posts: 982 | Location: Shenandoah Valley VA | Registered: 05 January 2005Reply With Quote
  Powered by Social Strata  
 


Copyright December 1997-2023 Accuratereloading.com


Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia