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Mahogany is a popular hardwood used for furniture, boats, and musical instruments. It is known for its durability, warm tones, and rich color. Mahogany dries quickly and is stable, but can be difficult to work with due to its hardness. Swietenia mahagoni was the most commonly used variety, but is now rare. Swietenia macrophylla and African mahogany are also used. Sapele wood is sometimes marketed as mahogany but has different characteristics.
Mahogany lumber is a highly sought-after hardwood that has been used to make furniture, boats and pianos, as well as in other woodworking businesses for at least five centuries. It is often named for the geographic area where it originated. Varieties include West Indian, Honduran and African.
Mahogany lumber is so desired due to its characteristic hardness and durability. It resists rot, making it a favorite with boat builders. It also tends to produce warm tones when used in the making of musical instruments, such as pianos and guitars. It also has a rich, deep color that furniture makers appreciate.
Mahogany lumber dries somewhat quickly. Once seasoned it has a good stability, it neither swells nor shrinks much. However, working with mahogany can be difficult for carpenters’ cutting tools. Because it is so hard and dense, it tends to dull the edges of the tool quickly.
Originally, the most commonly used variety of mahogany timber was Swietenia mahagoni. This type of wood used to be found throughout the Caribbean, but was reduced to near extinction by the 1950s. It is currently planted as an ornamental tree in its native habitats, which include southern Florida, as well as the Caribbean.
Another selection currently used for mahogany lumber is Swietenia macrophylla, also known as Honduran mahogany. This is a highly desirable inland variety, similar in characteristics to Swietenia mahagoni. It was historically commonly found in the tropical forests of South and Central America, but is becoming increasingly rare there, due to greater demand than availability.
In addition to the wood that comes from the Swietenia genus, another source of mahogany timber comes from the Khaya genus, which grows in Africa and is sold as African mahogany. This is known for its interlocking grain, and because of this, it can have a tendency to tear or chip as it is cut. Therefore, attention must be paid to the angle of the cut relative to the edge of the wood when a carpenter is using this type of lumber.
As true mahogany wood has become rarer and the similar wood is desired for its traditional uses, other types of wood are sometimes marketed as mahogany. One such type is sapele. Sapele wood is suitable for many projects for which mahogany was traditionally used. It has characteristics similar to African mahogany, but may tend to warp as it dries. It also has a different grain pattern, which can feel sliver-like or woolly.
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