I don’t use mahogany very often. I am building a cabinet for a co-worker. She requested mahogany. I purchased from a local supplier near my home. Question: the color is a creamy white instead of the medium brown that I associate with Honduran mahogany. The grain and texture does appear to be mahogany. Did I get a cheaper substitue unknowingly?
Thanks for your assistance.
Replies
Don't know what part of the world you are from, Dennis. In the US, the name mahogany is being used for numerous species other than Swietenia. If you buy from a lumber yard, as opposed to a hardwood supplier, you may get a decking material that they will call mahogany. Typically, it's a dark reddish brown tropical wood. Khaya, sapelle, andiroba, iroko, meranti, ipe and others may be called mahogany at lumber yards. Primavera is known as white mahogany, it has a creamy white color and properties similar to true mahogany. It's a little rare in my neck of the woods and expensive. Obeechee looks like a white mahogany but has none of the good properties and is cheap. How much did you pay per board foot? Honduran mahogany goes close to $10/BF, here. Khaya (African mahogany) is less than half that. Price might be an indicator.
Hammer1.. Good reply...
I rarely use furniture grade mahogany. I forget what 'true' mahogany is called but my local supplier has many boards that are very expensive. Almost as much as their Teak!
I use Sapele often because I can get some wide and sometimes thick boards at a reasonable price. It works well but I have no idea how well it will hold up with respect to water... I like Sapele for furniture. If the board has a twist.. Forget about that board unless you only save the flat parts.. No matter what I do it remains twisted.
http://www.eastteak.com/products/finehardwoods/sapele_data.html
I have some white mahogany? My daughter bought it to make something for her. I have no idea where she got it. I used some Sapele I had on hand and told her that the white wood was very soft and prone to dents.. She just smiled at me.. I am sure she knew that her father is full of BS.... I did think that the white was more than a bit soft compared to other types of mahogony.
Dennis
I just purchased some river salvage mahogany that is creamy pink in color, like fresh cut cherry.
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