Sapele Mahogany Wood

Medium to dark reddish brown or purplish brown. Color tends to darken with age. Besides the common ribbon pattern seen on quarter sawn boards, Sapele is also known for a wide variety of  other figured grain patterns, such as: pomelle, quilted, mottled,  wavy, beeswing, and fiddleback. Grain is interlocked, and sometimes wavy. Sapele has a fine texure and small pores. The wood has a distinct cedar-like smell.

Color: Heartwood is medium to dark-reddish brown with a medium texture, high-luster, pale yellow sapwood.

Other names:

Assie, Sapelli, Sapele, Sapilli, Dark Mahogany

Scientific Name:

Entandrophragma cylindricum

African, Cameron

• Sliced veneer
• Cabinetwork (high class furniture)
• Current furniture or furniture components
• Exterior joinery
• Interior joinery
• Interior panelling
•  Veneer for interior of plywood
• Veneer for back or face of plywood
• Flooring
• Stairs (inside)
• Ship building (planking and deck)

The wood saws and works moderately with both hand and machine tools; it has only slight blunting effects on cutting edges. In planing and moulding operations, a 15–20° cutting angle is recommended to avoid picking up of grain. Finishing gives usually good results, with a nice polish. The wood is not liable to splitting in nailing and screwing, with good holding properties. The gluing, staining and polishing properties are good, but the steam bending properties are poor.

Available on request.