Replies

1. 
   oldusty | Feb 22, 2008 06:47pm | #1

            Wood ,

                       Khaya is the African Mahogany family or the same thing some consider it not a true Mahogany .

                 dusty

                    Google hobbithouse.com real nice wood ID site

2. 
   saschafer | Feb 22, 2008 08:57pm | #2

   Khaya is a genus of African trees, in the same family as mahogany (genus Swietenia). The lumber from Khaya, particularly Khaya ivorensis, is commonly called African Mahogany. The color and texture are similar but not identical to "true" mahogany.

   As far as I know, Khaya wood is not especially toxic. Like almost any wood, it undoubtedly contains sensitizers that can lead to allergies, which can sometimes become severe.

   Another related genus is Entandrophragma, also from Africa. This is the source of sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) and utile (Entandrophragma utile).

   -Steve

    

    

3. 
   JamesS | Feb 23, 2008 10:07am | #3

   Khaya is the poorest species of the maghagonys. It is difficult to work, has variable grain & texture. Used on interior furniture & cabinets, trim, & some boat building. It tends to tear badly by machine or hand. Used as last resort in place of finer mahoganys.

   James

1. 
   woodenhead | Feb 23, 2008 04:48pm | #4

   Thanks for the information. I purchased some genuine mahogany and i noticed on the invoice it was marked pattern grade can you tell me what that means.

1. 
   BobSmalser | Feb 23, 2008 05:05pm | #5

   Unlike the ones species of Bigleaf Mahogany from C. and S. America, Khaya is comprised of seven species from across Africa, growing in a wider variety of soil and growing conditions.Accordingly, there can be great variance in how the wood works. Some easy, some awful.

2. 
   JamesS | Feb 24, 2008 04:06am | #6

   Woodehead:  Usually pattern grade means sawn with great care to obtain the straightest grain.

   James 

1. 
   woodenhead | Feb 24, 2008 05:28am | #7

   Thanks for the info.

4. 
   philip | Feb 24, 2008 05:51am | #8

   Wood,
   Khaya is good for looking like Mahogany and often can look better than real Mahogany. I wouldn't rate it as poorly as James S has-not by along way. I think Bob Smalser has got it right. If you can get it from a decent timber merchant, and it has been graded according to international standards (as it should be , coming from Africa) then you should be able to select out some superb timber.
   I have used it extensively for furniture and house things like bar tops. Comparatively easy to work, won't kill you (as far as I know), reasonably stable, not too heavy, and can look like a million dollars-if you can select it well.
   See the picture-typical Khaya, just polished over time with various waxes.

   Philip Marcou

   
1. 
   KeithNewton | Feb 24, 2008 06:47pm | #9

   Hey Mook, My supplier has quit carrying genuine mahogany, so I have been using a little of this wood. A lot of the African Mahogany that I have been getting lately has dark streaks which is checked badly. It has the appearance of being more like bark rather than wood. I have been wondering what causes this. Since the grain-pattern is so varied, I was wondering if tree surface is so convoluted that this is merely bark inclusions?

1. 
   BobSmalser | Feb 24, 2008 07:31pm | #10

   The reason Bigleaf (Honduras) Mahogany, Swietenia macrophylla, is in short supply is that Brazil recently stopped exports because of illegal logging. It's been estimated that well over 50% or all Bigleaf imports are harvested illegally, and it's a threatened species in many parts of it's range, notably Bolivia , some regions of Brazil , Colombia , Costa Rica , Guatemala , Mexico and Nicaragua .Bigleaf grows singly and in small, isolated forest groves. Attempts to increase planting density require massive amounts of carbaryl to control the borers, with significant damage to local forest ecosystems.So not only is Bigleaf becoming harder to get, the outlook for its future is bleak. It's not a "green" wood, and unlike plantation teak, it never will be. Moreover, it's unlikely that both consumers and African countries will buy responsibly or manage their resources any better than Latin American countries have, so the long term future of Khaya is also questionable.

1. 
   KeithNewton | Feb 24, 2008 08:00pm | #11

   Bob, thanks for that information. Do you mind sharing your source of information? I am not questioning your accuracy, I would just like to have more information.I try to use a green approach to woodworking, like using veneers mostly. But even at that, there is always a need for some solids like edging, and trim. I have my own little sawmill for harvesting urban trees, but I can't always find a good match for some of the exotic veneers that I come across.

1. 
   BobSmalser | Feb 25, 2008 12:11am | #13

   As all our local DF mixed-forest operations locally are renewable, sustainable and green, I'm working on getting them certified. Given world population growth and expanding economies, in another 20-40 years you may not be able to buy much lumber that isn't Forest Stewardship Council Certified.http://www.fscus.org/certifiers/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/footer/search?q=mahogany&page=1http://www.traffic.org/mahogany/us.html

   Edited 2/24/2008 4:14 pm by BobSmalser

2. 
   oldusty | Feb 24, 2008 08:24pm | #12

            hey Keith ,

                         The African  Mahogany is in good supply locally in fact we can choose the color range often . It is much different than genuine or Honduran , the grain switch and open pore varies . Some boards had much less of the broom grain as we call it .

       Most all the boards have the ribbon effect of color change not exactly like ribbon Mahogany . I think it is from the growing conditions and an inherent characteristic of the species. We do find some of the same characteristics even in genuine , but not as much . I won't buy it unless I can select the stock .  

       I like the color and it takes a finish nicely but , it does create some challenges " taming the board " .

                  regards           dusty

3. 
   philip | Feb 25, 2008 06:51am | #14

   Keith,
   I have not experienced what you talk of- can that supplier tell you where that Khaya comes from? And is it graded at all? Sounds like poor stuff.
   I have used Khaya Nyasica which is what is found in Mozambique, Angola, Malawi and around. It can be a bit darker than that, sometimes pinkish. It can also be very light coloured and this is often fuzzy when machined. So I never bought Khaya unless I was allowed to select each and every piece.It is not difficult to tell how it will be when looking at it in rough sawn state.
   See the pictures of some 2 inch stuff- very typical. Straight out of my thicknesser.
   I have seen a little of the Brazilian Mahogany that Bob mentions (I think), and this was bland, even on the boring side compared to Khaya. No nice smell either.
   Philip Marcou

   
1. 
   KeithNewton | Feb 25, 2008 07:09am | #15

   Hey Philip, Thanks for the reply. I wish my supplier was offering lumber that clean. It seems that they don't want to let us choose our own wood anymore. I now have to call a few hours ahead of time, even if I am going to pick it up, then it is take what they have pulled for me. I have not taken any photos of the defect that I was questioning, but I will post some shots when I do.