AFRICAN MAHOGANY HARDWOOD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

Shipping Estimate

To estimate shipping charges, place items in your cart and enter your ZIP code below.

Shipping Estimate

To estimate shipping charges, place items in the cart and enter your ZIP code below.

For the Place You Love

Cart:0
Contact Us
800-732-1697

AFRICAN MAHOGANY HARDWOOD IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

An In-Depth Look at African Mahogany's Characteristics, Color, Grain & More

AFRICAN MAHOGANY

OTHER COMMON NAMES

African Mahogany is the collective name for different trees that produce Honduras mahogany and santos mahogany. You may also hear Honduras mahogany referred to as genuine mahogany. [3]

LATIN NAME

The latin name for the tree that produces African mahogany wood is Khaya ivorensis. [4] The scientific name for Honduran mahogany is Swietenia macrophylla with santos mahogany’s scientific name being Myroxylon balsamum. The trees that make mahogany come from five different species in the Khaya genus. The Khaya anthotheca tree produces East African mahogany.

CHARACTERISTICS - AFRICAN MAHOGANY

The sapwood of African mahogany is clearly distinct from its heartwood and is a white or yellowish color. Freshly-cut santos mahogany heartwood is reddish brown in color.

While there is a slight variation in coloring between boards, there may be darker spots that resemble a deep red or purple. Honduran mahogany heartwood, however, varies in color. When freshly cut, it could resemble yellow, red, or pink, but darkens to a deep red or brown color as it ages. Exposure to sunlight for an extended period may cause fading in the color of the wood.

Because of this wide variety in color, other species of wood can often pass for mahogany. The grain patterns can also vary, either appearing straight or with waves. Irregularities in the grain may add to the aesthetic of the wood, producing blisters, stripes, roes, fiddlebacks, or a mottled appearance. Dark colored gum or white deposits may be present in pores, and the texture can range from fine to coarse.

MAIN USES - AFRICAN MAHOGANY

African mahogany has many uses (which includes flooring, veneer, plywood, furniture, home improvement, cabinetry, boatbuilding, window or door frames, and laminates). It has even been used to make musical instruments. [6] In fact, African mahogany’s tonal quality makes it a great choice for musical instruments like guitars.

Due to its workability and great finishing qualities, this wood species is also used in plywood, interior trim, cabinetry, fixtures, paneling, fine furniture and interior flooring.

FLOORING
FURNITURE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
DOORS
MOULDING

MILLING PROPERTIES - AFRICAN MAHOGANY

African mahogany wood has a hard structure, which can make it difficult to cut. Because of its hardness, this species has a high blunting effect on blades. It may respond well to hand tools, but these are likely to dull rapidly because of the structure of the wood. Honduras mahogany is easy to plane but may cause the grain to chip or tear out. [1]

HARDWOOD PROPERTIES - AFRICAN MAHOGANY

With a rich color, mahogany is often used as a decorative choice of wood. However, its workability leads to it being a favorite among woodworkers. Its working properties are easy to carve and machine while having a great response to finishing.

African mahogany is reported to have a notable nail-holding ability thanks to its hard structure and interlocked grain.[5] It responds well to sanding and has excellent polishing characteristics. African mahogany is a heavy, dense wood that does not marr or dent easily. It also has a natural durability that protects itself from fungi attacks and is moderately resistant to dry-wood termites.

Janka Hardness Scale

ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE - AFRICAN MAHOGANY

The Khaya species of trees (African mahogany) are found throughout Africa, usually tropical west Africa, but can also be found in parts of Madagascar. These trees are usually found in dry forests but have also been known to grow in moist areas.

AFRICAN MAHOGANY PRODUCTS AT BAIRD BROTHERS

Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods is happy to assist with any questions you have about our African mahogany products, which include S4S lumber, plywood, hardwood rough lumber, mouldings, stair parts and mantel shelves.

 

Please call 1-800-732-1697 or Contact Us if you need help with our extensive inventory.

COMPARISON TO OTHER WOOD SPECIES

Source: The Department of Agriculture's Wood Handbook

LumberSpecific GravityJanka HardnessModulus of Elasticity (MPa)Impact Bending (mm)Grain
African Mahogany --- 830 lb 9,700 --- Medium/Coarse
Alder 0.41 590 lb 9,500 510 Fine
Ash 0.6 1,320 lb 12,000 1,090 Fine
Basswood 0.37 410 lb 10,100 410 Fine
Beech 0.64 1,300 lb 11,900 1,040 Fine/Medium
Birch, Yellow 0.62 1,260 lb 13,900 1,400 Fine
Cedar, Western Red 0.32 350 lb 7,700 430 Fine
Cherry, Brazilian 0.91 2,350 lb 22,510 --- Medium
Cherry 0.5 950 lb 10,300 740 Fine
Cypress 0.51 510 lb 6,300 --- Medium
Douglas Fir 0.48 710 lb 12,300 660 Medium/Coarse
Hemlock 0.4 540 lb 8,300 530 Coarse
Hickory 0.66 1,820 lb 11,900 1,120 Medium
Maple, Hard 0.63 1,450 lb 12,600 990 Fine
Maple, Soft 0.47 700 lb 7,900 640 Fine
Oak, Red 0.63 1,290 lb 12,500 1,090 Coarse
Oak, White 0.68 1,360 lb 12,300 940 Coarse
Pine, Eastern White 0.35 380 lb 8,500 460 Medium
Pine, Ponderosa 0.4 460 lb 8,900 480 Medium
Pine, Yellow (Shortleaf) 0.51 690 lb 12,100 840 Fine/Medium
Poplar 0.42 540 lb 10,900 610 Medium
Sapele 0.67 1,410 lb 15,930 --- Fine
Teak 0.66 1,070 lb 10,700 --- Coarse
Walnut (Black) 0.55 1,010 lb 11,600 860 Medium

*Data is based on a moisture content of 12%.

GLOSSARY

Impact Bending — In the impact bending test, a hammer of given weight is dropped upon a beam from successively increased heights until rupture occurs or the beam deflects 152 mm (6 in.) or more. The height of the maximum drop, or the drop that causes failure, is a comparative value that represents the ability of wood to absorb s hocks that cause stresses beyond the proportional limit.

Janka Hardness — Defined as resistance to indentation using a modified Janka hardness test, measured by the load required to embed a 11.28-mm (0.444-in) ball to one-half its diameter. Values presented are the average of radial and tangential penetrations.

Modulus of Elasticity — Elasticity implies that deformations produced by low stress are completely recoverable after loads are removed. When loaded to higher stress levels, plastic deformation or failure occurs.

Specific Gravity - A measure of the ratio of a wood's density as compared to water. If a wood species had the same density as water, the specific gravity would be 1.00.

SOURCES

  1. “African Mahogany”. The Wood Database. Wood-database.com. Accessed Aug. 2021.
  2. "African Mahogany - Global Trees" Global Trees Campaign. Globaltrees.org. Accessed Aug. 2021.
  3. “Genuine Mahogany vs. African Mahognay: What's the Difference?”Strategicia.com. Accessed Aug. 2021
  4. “Khaya ivorensis” Wikipedia. Accessed Aug. 2021.
  5. "African Mahogany Lumber" Advantegelumber.com. Accessed Aug. 2021.
  6. "African Mahgoany (Timber)" Forestlegality.org. Accessed Aug. 2021.
Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods 7060 Crory Rd. Canfield, OH 44406
P: 330.533.3122
F: 330.533.0781
Toll Free: 800.732.1697
Contact Us


Cart ID:
Hours of Operation (Eastern Time Zone)
Mon. - Fri.: 7:30am - 4pm,
Sat.: 7:30am - noon,
Sun: CLOSED
Confidence in Online Shopping As a member of NHLA, HBA, RAHC & the Better Business Bureau, we back up our business with A+ credentials.
© Baird Brothers Sawmill, Inc.  All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Site Map | About Us | Contact Us | 800.732.1697 - Prices and Policies subject to change without notice.