Is African mahogany and Sapele the same?
African Mahogany: Most inconsistent of the three. Light reddish brown to dark brown. Sapele: Dark red-brown, almost with an orange tint.
Is Sapele good for flooring?
Native to tropical Africa, Sapele Mahogany is a medium textured and moderately dense exotic hardwood that is excellent for wood flooring applications. It features golden to dark reddish brown coloring that is often more consistent than that of other Mahogany species.
Is Sapele mahogany expensive?
Pricing/Availability: Should be moderately priced for regular plainsawn or quartersawn lumber, though figured lumber and veneer can be extremely expensive, particularly pommele or quilted Sapele.
Is African mahogany stable?
African Mahogany is a pale reddish-brown color with a straight, interlocking grain, and the species is about 50% harder than most Mahogany woods. Like Genuine Mahogany, African Mahogany is quite stable once finished; the species takes stain, clear coat, and paint very well, giving consumers plenty of flexibility.
Is sapele better than mahogany?
It is a great alternative to genuine Mahogany. Sapele is stiffer and heavier than the African mahogany. It is said to be 16% harder than Red Oak. So that the chance of scratching on this wood is less….Sapele wood.
| # | Mahogany wood | Sapele Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Bending Properties: | It can bend and carve easily. | It can bend easily. |
What does sapele Mahogany mean?
1 : mahogany sense 1b(2) 2 : a tree (especially Entandrophragma cylindricum) that produces sapele mahogany.
Is sapele environmentally friendly?
In addition to its stability, availability and appearance, Sapele is a highly verifiable, sustainable species — a quality that makes it an excellent alternative to Genuine Mahogany — as well as a great species in its own right. …
What does sapele mahogany mean?
Is sapele harder than mahogany?
Sapele wood is of medium hardness with a Janka rating of 1510 lbs making is harder than most domestic North American Species and almost twice as hard as Genuine Mahogany. Additionally Sapele grows with an interlocking grain pattern where the fibers twist around the tree as they grow.
Does Sapele darken over time?
Sapele tends to darken as it ages, so its natural color may suffice, but if you look to hasten the process, you’ll find that the wood stains well. There’s no definitive best finish for sapele.
What’s the difference between mahogany and Sapele 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.”.
Where can you find Sapele trees in Africa?
Sapele (also known also as aboudikro, saplewood, sapelli and Sapele Mahogany) is one of the largest trees that are native to the regions of tropical Africa. As a part of the genus Entandrophragma and the family of Meliaceae, it can be commonly found in rainforests of Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, and others.
What kind of wood is used as a substitute for mahogany?
Because of its increased popularity and regular use as a substitute for Mahogany, this wood type is sometimes referred today as “ Sapele Mahogany .”
Which is the most common texture of Sapele wood?
The three most common textures of Sapele are Plain, Figured and Pommele Figure . In woodworking and cutting, these same interlocked grain patterns can cause severe tearouts. Thankfully, after hard work of cutting and molding, sapele readily accepts finishes and polishes. It can be polished to a very high luster.