I have a question about different types of mahogany. I had always been under the impression that there are only two types, Honduran and African. However, a supplier I just talked to said that there are actually 5 types of African. He says that they carry the African Kahya mahogany instead of the Honduran because they are nearly exactly the same. Is anyone familiar with this, is this true?
Thanks,
David P.
Replies
David, what you've been told is pretty much correct. African mahogany comes from several species belonging to the genus Khaya. This genus is in the mahogany family (Meliaceae) and closely related to the American genus; Swietenia, that produces the so-called "genuine" mahogany, AKA Honduras mahogany. They are both excellent cabinet woods in terms of working characteristics, stability and decay resistance, but the American variety edges out the African slightly on virtually all these measures. It is slightly more stable, more decay resistant and usually a little denser and stronger than the African (but density varies depending on the species of Khaya.) The African tends to be slightly coarser textured, with a darker and more reddish color. Also, it tends to produce a more pronounced interlocked grain, which probably contributes to its slightly poorer stability as it relates to potential distortion (slightly higher tendency to warp)...but the interlocked grain also gives it a very attractive ribbon figure when quartersawn.
In my opinion, African mahogany takes a lot of cheapshots by virtue of its being constantly compared to its American cousin. It's a fine cabinet wood in its own right and vastly superior to the many "mahogany" substitutes that don't actually belong to the mahogany family.
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