Sapele(African mahogany)

[VAwoodcarver]

Hi all, i work at a cabinet shop and we just got some pretty exotic wood in today. Its called sapele or African mahogany and is the real deal. It is something. We are doing some cabinets in it and ill get the wood scraps as i always do. Im always digging through the scrap bins. I've carved a lot of exotic woods (brazilian cherry, purple heart, honduran mahogany,etc.) but have never carved any Sapele and was wondering how it was to carve. Any replies appreciated..

[mark yundt]

I've carved a bunch of it over the past 10 yrs or so. At times it seems O.K...and others it can be a bugger. It's nothing like the Honduras,,more like the Phillipine. The picture frame I'm doing now is all African,,,at times it drives me nuts. There are also 4 or 5 other woods I get from Africa, a friend owns a mill there and is a direct importer and is now distributing. For cabinetry it's great,,carving,,it's questionable at times.I don't know the names of the other woods I get from him,,but a couple look like ( in color) like walnut,,and seem to carve beautifully,,and others look like blond mahogany and they too seem to carve very well. Plus he has some really off the wall stuff I can't wait to try.

But the mahogany,,,it can be iffy.It certainly isn't like the stuff I got spoiled with.And the African stuff can act ,,and stain,,more like basswood or spanish cedar,,,yeah,,that's more what it's like,,but doesn't carve as well as the cedar.

[mdallensr]

I got a piece of that (or some relative of it) from a friend to try. It was more like luan mahogany, splintery and brittle. I really like Honduran mahogany, but the African version I carved was no fun at all. Mike

[VAwoodcarver]

Yea, we get a lot of off the wall exotic woods at my work . And some i just dont see why anyone would want cabinets out of them! lol