The ONE Difference Between MAHOGANY Lumbers

If you're a woodworker, chances are you've see more than one kind of "mahogany." Did you feel cheated? Misled? Confused? Well, we've got some news for you.

Mahogany is a gorgeous wood, even if there are several types that just confuse the matter. Give this video a spin -- we'll break down the myths about mahogany, and tell you which one is the real thing AND WHY it's the real thing. More importantly, we'll help you make a better choice when planning your woodworking projects.

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#woodworking
#mahogany
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[WoodworkersSourcecom]

Let's hear it for mahogany! *BOOM*  🔥🔥🔥
Who can say "disappointingly pale" 5 times fast, huh?
_Fact check: __3:50__ - __4:41__ we misspelled "Khaya"_

[jimwessel]

Dude, you're awesome. As a beginner at woodworking, your descriptive videos for the various hardwood is incomparable. Thanks and keep it up.

[HenricKohagen]

Sapele is my favorite it has so many types of beautiful shine patterns

[craigmonteforte]

i am a retired Architectual Woodworker and in the early 90s the rage with Architects and interior designers was Sapele wood traditionally we used a Coversion Varnish with a tint and ill be truthfull most people had no idea it wasnt Mahogany i did restore a Antiques Wooden Cabin Cruiser that was built out of Honduras Majogany and for many years it was rumored that the Chrus Craft boat company bought and used the very last shipment sent to America ?? who knows they basically stopped building Wooden boats in 1972 i believe was their last one they rolled off the assembly line i believe you could use the Sapele to do Superstructures and interior trims etc and i even did that on a couple of spots on my old boat i refrained from using any below the waterline just because i do believe with the right finisher and products you can make the Sapele as pretty as you want for any furniture or trim

[markyour]

You answered questions about mahogany I didn't know I had! This was a fantastic video! Keep them coming!

[fusion-music]

Fantastic for a supplier to make such informative, educational, well presented & edited videos. Top marks 100 out of 100

[joestehle]

Thank You!! I started making wood furniture as a hobby mostly during covid lockdown to keep my sanity.... progressed to now from shelf-2-trunk-2-Dresser-2-a kiten cabiner -2-a bar with (mock) stained glass and no eager to venture into new woods.... purple heart, mohagony, walnut to create some and this clip surpassed my expectations as far as an intro into btw, just bookmarked your website after also seeing stuff on walnut & canarywood!!!

[SoundsToBlowYourMind]

Interesting video. I've used a few of these species for building my stave and segmented drum shells. One other wood that is often called Mahogany is Utile, or "Sipo Mahogany" which is very similar to Sapele, but has a more coarse grain with bigger open pores. I would have mentioned the stability of these different species as one of the reasons genuine Mahogany is so popular is that it's extremely stable and hardly moves at all once kiln dried.

[shannonperkins]

Holy cow. Thank you! I'm a custom kitchen/bathroom designer in Indiana. Our shop (yes; we also manufacture on-site) got a call today for an African Mahogany kitchen and bathroom. In at least the last six years, the most exotic request we've gotten is a toss-up between bamboo and walnut until today. I knew NOTHING about the different species of mahogany. I DEFINITELY didn't know anything about how it handles. This was quick, and concise. THANK YOU!

[NPR]

Thanks, Mark, for a great clip defining the many characteristics of mahogany and their uses. I've been a cabinet maker/woodworker for nearly 30 years and have experienced the merits of each you've mentioned.
In the 19th century Victorian era, mahogany was used in high end interior and exterior millwork in residential applications - in lue of heart pine. Even back then they painted (exterior) mahogany millwork and it's endured. In fact, some of the shipping companies employed their sailors as craftsman in the northeast's New England states during the fishing off season, building a number of the stately homesteads still standing throughout that region today. Mahogany was their finish wood of choice for the elite/affluent customers because it was a) a status symbol for its beauty & origin & b) back then plentiful, although expensive.

I typically use mahogany as paint-grade replacement for window/exterior door components for longevity & serviceability, because of its inherent characteristics; yeap, it's much more expensive than the go to/preferred pressure treated (yellow pine) repairs - which over time will fail and seems typical w/my contemporaries now days. Although I have yet in all those years to have a call back for repairs done w/mahogany. The key there is using the right primer as most of the species have an inherent oil that won't allow a bond w/paints, then (2) top quality top coats. The comical thing to me is fellas typically use yellow pine (pressure treated) today for exterior door jamb or window sill repairs, but the osmosis treatment of the wood (saturation) won't allow for paint to bond adequately for months out. Yellow pine always shrinks and checks after the osmosis process, by nature, and the paint won't bond to it long term when it's still green/wet - even if you start w/a "dry" piece of y.p., it's not holding up, at least not in the long run.

I've used sapele extensively with exterior projects, "NOT painted btw...", mainly for its longevity and wearability with use, exposure to the elements, as well as its inherent beauty. It holds up wonderfully stained/oiled like teak, as patio furniture, beautiful gates, and garden architecture, but especially as an entry door to a home. It makes a majestic entrance when stained, then sealed with a durable exterior clear top coat. The key is how its maintained, with respect to moisture and uv rays with a quality finish top coat applied. It does weather quite well - if the homeowner is vigilant. Care must be taken to maintain its beauty - as does any exterior millwork, due to harsh exposure w/the elements.

As an aside, I believe it's the heaviest of those mentioned - and by far the most brutal on all your cutting edges; jointer, planer, and shaper knives, router bits, as well as your saw blades and scrapers. I promise it doesn't sand like pine either...Although when it's finish sanded off properly, and a durable top coat of finish(s) is applied, it's drop-dead-gorgeous, especially with entry doors. Just be sure to use heavy jamb material (not finger joint pine...)AND, heavy duty hinges - large ones w/(ball bearings) at that... I enjoy an occasional re-run on the silver screen, not so much w/an irate customer.

[trijfkelly]

Mark...Really love these videos. So much good information about the different types of wood and how to work with them best. Please keep them coming. Thank you!!

[chadallenfit]

In the process of starting a woodworking shop and besides the box box stores and cedar, not familiar with the different woods. I really appreciate these videos. They are excellently done, the guys comical and easy to understand. Thank you. Any advice is appreciated.

[slanwar]

I really like the finish of the Santos piece, nice color.

[coryg]

I like your level of detail and style of delivery in your videos. It's very educational for me!

[mikepaull]

My father was a pattern maker for a large motor manufacturer for 30 years and was a lifetime woodworker. For him, there was only one wood, GENUINE Mahogany.

[lawrencehincker]

Thanks Mark. Don't worry about getting into the weeds. This was great and informative. Most importantly, now I know why my recent mahogany project was splitting and chipping on my router table. All this time, I thought mahogany was mahogany but upon inspecting the grain and pulling out my year's old receipt, I see that it was African Mahogany, which you confirm is susceptible to those problems.. Now I know to be careful.

[just-dl]

This is a win for me! I love this type of video. Not least of all because you have knowledge, coupled with enthusiasm. Thank you! Oh, and, I love African Mahogany and Sapele! They're both beautiful and a joy to work with. There's a trait to African Mahogany that I learned with my first project with it. When sanded and finished, the layers of different cell types are amidst translucent, as you turn it different directions, you can see into different layers of the wood. I had a piece on the lathe, under a new light...I just put oil on it, and as the lathe was slowing down, I saw the grain pattern and depth for the first time. It was love at first sight. (Sigh) excuse need a tissue....

[chriswild]

Excellent info we use a lot of sapele in our work here in the U K 👍

[rossbausone]

Great job Mark! First time for me and I appreciate the level of "weeds" you still kept it interesting!

[jlh]

Mark, thanks for the explanation regarding the differences between "mahogany" woods and the demonstration on finishing the different woods. I'm going to attempt a cabinet made from sapele and I really appreciate the time and effort you put in making this video.