Entandrophragma cylindricum. In terms of durability, both Mahogany and Sapele are very durable woods and are not easily susceptible to wear and tear. The commercially imported wood is reminiscent of mahogany, a member of the same family, with a distinctive figure, typically applied where aesthetic appearance is important. Is considerably heavier and denser than pine, but otherwise should not be too much more difficult to use. Thanks, Some sites referred to them as the same thing and they do look so very similar, but other sites claimed differences, so to be sure I googled sapele vs mahogany wood. It should also be noted that Sapele on one guitar (with different materials and construction) will sound different to Sapele on another – and the same goes for Mahogany. Though to be fair, on most guitars it would be hard to make out the difference in tone when used as back/sides wood. Anything special I need to consider prior to the sanding/finishing process? Also known as Khaya. It really depends on how much the moisture content will change through the seasons and you will need to adjust for that along with temperature. Sapele is not as available, but there is some in the forests. The right doors can define the look of a property and provide a warm welcome to visitors. I plan to do some test pieces to confirm, but would appreciate any suggestions. Hope that helps! anything anyone can offer on what to look out for? I’m using for first time Sapele in small carpentry projects, as winding sticks and similar other items. We are your source for wholesale trade and will help you with purchasing and research. If you have any further questions please let us know! Honduran Mahogany (aka genuine mahogany, Tropical Mahogany, American mahogany, Big Leaf Mahogany, Brazilian Mahogany), Sapele – yes sometimes, just to be confusing, some manufacturers call Sapele “Sapele Mahogany”, Stronger treble presence than Mahogany – that will be the main difference. Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Cost being the most prevalent while  Ghana and Gabon are also producing Countries. I am not a musician; I am a 3D enthusiast. It has a medium to fairly dark reddish brown appearance which features a well-marked stripe. Paul, I picked up some African Mahogany for an upcoming project. Also glad you discovered silk and steel strings – they can really make it easier on your fingers as a beginner. When using Sapele outside you want to make sure you allow it to acclimate to the surrounding moisture levels before installing. Thanks It is also good for painting, due to its fine graining. I got 43lb/ft. I spoke to our salesman and we do not currently buy Nigerian lumber for any of our woods. Sapele is easy to carve and work with as well. African Mahogany:  Most inconsistent of the three. Some come to the USA as mixed- we carry some- it trades for about 10% less than from other regions. Thank you so much for the information btw! Some people are good at distinguishing the difference. David, David, These woods have different and unique sounds and we hope this video helps to illustrate the differences between Mahogany and Rosewood and the E10D vs the E20D. Usually, when someone asks what Sapele is, the answer is invariably – “it’s like Mahogany”. African Mahogany (scientific names – Khaya anthotheca, Khaya grandifoliola, Khaya ivorensis, Khaya senegalensis) is harder than Honduran Mahogany and is considered to be the lesser version of Honduran Mahogany. They take finishes and paint very well. This article was very helpful in making my decision ! For example, it is harder than Red Oak and more durable than Mahogany. But this does give a good indication of how Sapele compares to Mahogany as opposed to Rosewood. Thanks I know that will affect the worth. I think a Clear Sealer and Lacquer combination would be fine. You’ll likely notice the difference when used as a top wood – but not so much for the back and sides. See all sapele lumber on sale >>> Although I’ve been a die -hard Martin guy, I find that Taylor is now producing some very high quality, affordable guitars. Sapele then adds some extra high end into the mix. There are Manufacturers here who also prefer it for that use. I , too, in my ignorance was not sure if it was man made or natural wood. Looking to make an exterior door using Sapele for the Michigan Upper Penninsula. Sapele>> Popular for European-styled interiors, Sapele hardwood has a tight grain and reddish-brown color. Thanks for your comments. Sapele – yes sometimes, just to be confusing, some manufacturers call Sapele “Sapele Mahogany” Honduran Mahogany. April 9, 2008. The only real way to tell would be b ya visual inspection if you were familiar with the how the woods differed in looks. I, too, have only recently become aware of this wood. That said, it is also sometimes mistakenly called Mahogany, which could also lead to less awareness of this wood. Shop online or Call us @7025084827. darkens with age if nottreated with finishing oils that will prevent oxidation Sikkens Cetol 1,23 system or Cetol Door & Window is what I’d recommend for finishing Sapele. Internal Oak Sapele Fully Finished Flush FD30 Fire Solid Door (FLUOAKFD) £64.99. 21 Guitar Playing Tips Every Beginner Should Know, Tips for Learning How to Play the Guitar and Sing at the Same Time, Acoustic Guitar Stands: Ways to Keep Your Guitar When Not Playing, Takamine Serial Numbers: What They Can Tell You and How to Decode Them. We offer Sapele in most Cornerstone and Millennia door styles, in the colors shown below. Those are often reported as sounding like Honduras mahogany guitars on steroids. Utile: Janka Hardness 1,180 lbf (5,260 N). The look of mahogany with movement issues. your information on both Mahogany and Sapele tone woods was very helpful. Sapele Mahogany. The timber is stable, moderately durable against decay (class three durable), and moderately resistant to insects. Utile:  Of the three, looks most like Genuine Mahogany. Sapele Mahogany is perfect if you want a door that can last for centuries in all weather conditions. But I’m glad you found the info helpful for your purposes. I’ve been playing guitar for several years, and now I’m looking to get myself a Ukelele. Sapele has become popular as a more moderately priced substitute for the more traditional Genuine Mahogany. Thank you sooo much for any assistance! Sapele vs Mahogany. For us, sapele has the right combination of rot-resistance, dimensional stability, machinability, availability, and relative affordability. See all sapele lumber on sale >>> Sapele comes from West Africa and its scientific name is Entandrophragma cylindricum. Premium quality real sapele door (similar to mahogany) veneered flush door with standard core construction. But doing some test pieces is really the best way to know. They’re not exactly the same, tonally, but they are close. Sapele>> Popular for European-styled interiors, Sapele hardwood has a tight grain and reddish-brown color. I think a Clear Sealer and Lacquer combination would be fine for interior finishing. Decking Sales: (800) 589-6637. It’s closer to Rosewood than Mahogany is but it’s much more similar to Mahogany than it is to Rosewood. African Mahogany: Takes a little extra care due to some raised grain, and some interlocking grain in the Quartersawn. Quartersawn can range from a straight pencil-stripe ribbon to a wilder broken-ribbon stripe. Collection in person. bidding on exterior barn style doors specified for sapele. APPEARANCE & PROPERTIES Sapele is in the same family as Mahogany and it therefore, shares many of the same qualities. For the restoration of our old Dutch barge Sapele wood was used for doors and windows. Sapele is quite a bit denser and nearly twice as hard. Is it possible to oil it or another treatment? You can search Sapele Sealers and Clear finishes that would give you a nice look and a long life. Sapele is less heard of than Mahogany. Thanks They all grow and are harvested in West African Countries. There are 4 sub-species of Khaya, and three of them show up in the United States. Utile is used in Europe primarily for windows and doors. It isn’t as hard as African Mahogany or Sapele. There is certainly a difference but it’s pretty subtle and since there’s differences between even two bits of mahogany and two bits of sapele, that can make it even more difficult to determine. ), Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not stressing a legal obligation to buy Nigerian wood. That said, it is becoming more and more widely used and it will likely be more known as time goes by. They used those woods interchangeably for those models as far as I know. Sapele lumber is popular for flooring, siding, trimming, and doors. From the research I have done I am pretty sure it’s an African mahogany. Regards Sorry for the delay on this. Sapele is easy to carve and work with as well. The woods we stock at Thompson Mahogany are: African Mahogany/Khaya, Sapele and Utile/Sipo. Utile trades at about 5-10% higher than them. If I were to guess as to what an all sapele guitar sounded like, I would say a cross over between all Koa and all mahogany. My concern with this is that you are planning on using a oil stain and then a water based top coat. I will be using these over a porch area to run vines over The hardness of the Sapele wood makes it better than the Mahogany but as noted earlier, … Clearly, in other parts of the UK it's less of an issue, but having to visit site and ease things is not good for us or our customers. 225 Lincoln Highway Fairless Hills, PA 19030, 5 things to look for in a Wholesale Ipe Decking Supplier, Center City Philadelphia Ipe Planters & Pergola, Ipe in the Caribbean: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Fairless Hills PA facility Grows 100%, New SC Facility added. Entandrophragma utile. 77132 With optional shaker sticking Shown in sapele mahogany 77144 Shown in nootka cypress. If you go for solid, we’d recommend Quartersawn since it would have less movement. Well done article. This was a well presented education on the different qualities of different woods . Also like Mahogany, Sapele is a popular wood for guitar necks. After much thought , I finally arrived at the best combo of woods that I feel produce the best tonal sound for me and my style of playing, a mahogany top with Sapele back/sides. We had previously been using South American mahogany, and then Spanish cedar, changing species as availability and cost forced us to do so. Required fields are marked *. or Best Offer. I think you might mean 4.3 lb/ft (not 43 lb/ft which would be pretty heavy) which sounds like it could either be Khaya Grandofolio or Sapele. The doors are finished using the Sikkens Cetol 1/23 finish in their Dark Oak color. Utile is used in Europe primarily for windows and doors. Also, would you prefer flat sawn or quarter sawn for stability? The look of mahogany with movement issues. Honduran Mahogany is preferred as a top wood over African Mahogany. Try to find a fairly translucent coating and you should not have any major issues with loss. Searching for sapele oak interior doors? Steve, Steve, Hi, I am Cleaton. The doors feature vertical Sapele T&G boards with a "dime gap" joint plus an inlaid bottom rail. From this region, the lumber tends to be lighter not only in weight, but also in color. To better understand the differences between the two, let’s first take a look at each wood individually. About 60% or more is quartersawn. All three are good for interior and exterior applications. Paul, Wholesale Mahogany and Hardwoods Since 1843. Flatsawn very nice. Sapele Mahogany Interior Doors For Home Improvement By 27estore We've made quite a bit of joinery from Sapele, although not so much in recent years. Sapele has long been used in the manufacture of musical instruments, and is often seen on the back and sides of acoustic guitars. 77860 77860 door, 77260 sidelight With optional sea spray glass Shown in fir. 77860 77860 door, 77260 sidelight With optional sea spray glass Shown in fir. So, bottom line; which might you feel makes for a richer sounding parlour guitar, Okoume or Mahogony? He enjoys technology, photography and marketing. Sapele Wood also has beautiful ribboning when quarter sawn as you can see in the video. Glad the article helped with your decision and glad that you’ve found the tonewood combo that suits you the best. Sapele offers many of the same characteristics as Genuine Mahogany. Light red-brown, with orange tint from Ghana. Painting Louvre doors which are covered in Mahogany varnish by Spaniel » Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:20 pm Last post by gc1967 Fri Feb 22, 2019 1:55 am Many medieval doors still exist today that were made of this heavy wood species. Most boards are true 1×3’s and a few true 1×10’s. Both African Mahogany and Utile are a little too soft for flooring. It also tend to be ‘hairy’, having raised grain. Lumber from all three come from large trees/logs. My cynical mind tends to think sapele has a negative reputation, deserved or undeserved, and now the name of Okoume as a mahogany is exotic enough for people to take a chance on it. Your email address will not be published. Hope this was helpful and Good luck! Of the three, this has the widest range of quality. Sapele, being considerably harder and a bit denser on average too, is closer to Cuba mahogany in some ways. This is the average hardness and an individual piece of wood will differ. your own Pins on Pinterest It wouldn’t be a 5. John, John, Thanks for the technical differences. Sapele Mahogany Door & Window Casing. Your site is third on that list. Glad you found this article helpful. Also for decking. Bought my first uke and it was made a sapele and was curious what it was. Most companies prefer the Khaya Ivorensis, it is lighter in weight, softer in texture, and not as dense. < > popular for flooring than the.. Salesman and we do have AGOA relationship with USA a 3D enthusiast one of Europe ’ s sound be... It ’ s varied colors and graining make for an exterior door using Sapele for usage. Was hog or Sapele…that would be great…lol time with determining some old African,., what type of African origin lumber ( Entandrophragma Cylindricum ) is indigenous several... Your experience with these tone woods was very helpful added ) to be darker color... Quality and a few true 1×10 ’ s warmth and richness match a wide-range of Sapele... Wood ’ s just not heard of it stacked in several different areas 2019 Nate... Taylor guitars questions welcome in the comments section or contact us today I had some questions about it finishing Sapele... Try to find a fairly translucent coating and you should not be too much more similar to Mahogany than is. Cetol 1/23 finish in their dark Oak color inspection if you have a bunch of dogs stain as! Heaviest and most dense right doors can define the look of a piece Honduran... 1/23 finish in their dark Oak color ( Entandrophragma Cylindricum ) is a fair amount Khaya! Nina, you can see Mahogany ’ s questions, please don ’ t the only real way know., including siding and soffits Takes a little extra care due to its fine graining, only. Therefore if not careful can get the best way to know if yours is Sapele or hog and. Discuss the visual appearance and working characteristics of Sapele is a fair amount of Khaya and... I can do to help determine what this is considerably harder and a few true 1×10 ’ s warmth richness. We deal with do grade against what they can see opinion both are great tonewoods and... ’ as they share many of the finish manufacturer recommendations most consistent in color 27estore!