Is African Mahogany also called Sapele?

Sapele lumber is often marketed as a type of African Mahogany. In some ways this is true since Sapele is in the Mahogany family, Meliceae.

What is African mahogany called?

Khaya ivorensis (African mahogany)

What is African Sapele wood?

Sapele (pronounced sa-pee'-lee) is in the African mahogany family. Indeed, sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) has the appearance of African mahogany; that is, sapele is dark reddish brown with a ribbon pattern. It is actually heavier, stronger and harder than African mahogany.

What is the difference between mahogany and African mahogany?

The main difference between African mahogany and its South American counterpart is the wood's color variation, often appearing as a series of light and dark bands or as a ribbon figure. The African species occasionally has interlocked grain, making it more difficult to work with than genuine mahogany.

Is African mahogany actually mahogany?

African Mahogany, Khaya spp

African Mahogany became the most available and affordable substitute. Today this is the most widely used wood called “mahogany”. It is not related to South American Mahogany but has a similar look and even though it is more brittle it has acceptable working properties.

Sapele vs African Mahogany vs Utile Lumber

Is African mahogany good wood?

Generally, mahogany wood is known as a hard, rich and warm reddish-brown wood. When used for woodworking projects, such as furniture building, mahogany is regarded as a sturdy, durable material that creates high-quality, long-lasting pieces.

What is Sapele known for?

Sapele is also known for the rubber plantations in the vicinity. Its industry became more diversified in the 1960s with factories for making shoes, tiles, plastics, and chemicals. Sapele is a local market centre in cassava (manioc), fish, palm oil and kernels, yams, and plantains, and it has a flour-milling plant.

Is Sapele cheap wood?

Today, Sapele is still readily available for purchase at a much cheaper level than Mahogany, in both lumber and veneer form. Because of its increased popularity and regular use as a substitute for Mahogany, this wood type is sometimes referred today as “ Sapele Mahogany.”

What color is Sapele?

Somewhat like mahogany in appearance – both the color and grain can make it tough to tell a difference – but it's a bit harder and has more golden bronze color than mahogany. And sapele is best when it's quarter sawn because of the ribbon grain that appears.

How can you tell Sapele wood?

Sapele is characterised by a marked and regular stripe, particularly pronounced on quarter-sawn surfaces. Occasionally mottle figure is present, It is fairly close textured, and the grain is interlocked. It is harder and heavier than African mahogany. weighing about 640 kg/m³ when dried.

Is African Mahogany good for guitars?

African mahogany, sometimes called khaya, supports the Performer and Signature Series with warm, midrangy tone and the familiar dry fundamental that has made it a favorite of guitarists for over a century. And all African mahogany Wildwoods offer the classic blues combination at a revolutionary price.

What kind of mahogany does Martin use?

The Central American mahogany is the species used by Martin on the pre-World War II golden era instruments. This wood is of the same genus, but a different species than the South American mahogany most commonly used today.

Is African Mahogany wood expensive?

Mahogany is sometimes sold by the board foot, and prices can average $6 to $28 or more per piece. This is about 10 times more than comparable furniture-grade woods.

Where does African Mahogany come from?

African mahogany is produced on the Ivory Coast, the Gold Coast, and in Nigeria. This type of Mahogany is found in West Africa and in certain parts of East Africa. Woods alleged to be Mahogany, but coming from other than these listed regions, are not genuine Mahogany.

Is African Mahogany red?

African Mahogany is an exotic wood with a deep reddish brown color. The grain can be straight, but is typically interlocking. Working this wood is generally easy but tearing can occur when planing. It often has a shimmering figure.

Is African mahogany cheap?

African Mahogany is the cheapest of the Mahoganies, and it is often purchased for use as an affordable alternative to Genuine Mahogany.

Is African mahogany strong?

Here are some of the essential characteristics of the African mahogany wood: Color: Can range from a pale pink to a muted orange to reddish-brown or golden brown. Grains: Can range from straight to interlocked and has a medium to coarse texture. Durability: Moderately durable.

What color is African mahogany?

African Mahogany heartwood ranges from light to deep reddish-brown in color. Grain is straight to interlocked. It's texture is medium to coarse.

Is African Mahogany from Africa?

This tree is native to tropical Africa from Sierra Leone eastwards to Uganda and Tanzania and southwards to Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Within its native range it occurs in riverine, groundwater, lowland and lower montane forests from 0 to 1500m.

Is African Mahogany illegal?

"This wood is illegal as a matter of both U.S. and international law. It is illegal to trade in it, to import it, and to possess it.

Which mahogany tree is best?

African mahogany is popular due to better yield production. The price of African mahogany tree is around Rs 15,000 - 20,000 this is the price of 10 year old mahogany tree.