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Sapele

A Tale of Two Mahogany Alternatives

Last updated on January 14, 2016 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Stacks of Sapele lumber
Stacks of Sapele lumber

A traditional favorite used in furniture and high-end millwork, Mahogany has a rich history spanning hundreds of years. Sadly, its rising price point has made this species less accessible for many woodworkers. As regulation of Mahogany has increased, the supply chain has added additional cost, leaving many once-devout Mahogany fans with more questions than answers.

Here at J. Gibson McIlvain lumber company, we’ve dedicated much research and effort to helping one-time Mahogany customers find an alternative that makes sense for them, and that alternative can be found amid the African hardwoods.

The Top Contender: Sapele

As part of the African Mahogany family, Sapele has risen to the top as the most popular alternative to Genuine, or South American, Mahogany. As a large, stable tree that’s even more dense than Genuine Mahogany, the Sapele tree produces many large boards in a variety of thicknesses. Sapele is harder than Genuine Mahogany, and its interlocking grain pattern combines with that increased hardness to make it difficult to work. Tear out is common, and milling must be very cautiously done.

Quartersawn Sapele produces a striking ribbon stripe that has helped Sapele to establish a market all its own, apart from its original purpose as a Mahogany alternative. That new market is causing an increased demand, along with higher prices, though. While it’s the most expensive of the African Mahoganies, Sapele still costs less than 70% of what Genuine Mahogany does.

Flat sawn Utile (left) and quartersawn Utile (right)
Flat sawn Utile (left) and quartersawn Utile (right)

The Unknown Underdog: Utile

Utile, we believe, is actually the closest match to Genuine Mahogany, yet it’s still relatively unknown to the public. Also referred to as Sipo, this species is in the same genus as Sapele. Utile lacks the highly interlocked grain of Sapele, making it easier to work without tearout. It is lighter than Sapele and only slightly heavier than Genuine Mahogany, making it a closer match to that highly sought-after species.

Quartersawn Utile does display a more mellow version of the ribbon stripe of Sapele, but its flatsawn appearance is nearly identical to that of Genuine Mahogany. This species does include some darker medullary rays that can help experts distinguish it from Genuine Mahogany; those darker lines also provide greater visual interest that many appreciate.

Like the Sapele tree, the Utile tree is quite large, allowing careful mills to produce 12/4 and thicker boards exceeding widths of 10 to 12 inches. With a lower density than Sapele, Utile has greater stability. Since it’s sold in packs including only Utile (instead of a menagerie of African Mahoganies), it’s essentially more consistent than Sapele. Typically available at a price that’s half that of Genuine Mahogany and without a market of its own threatening to cause prices to rise, Utile is an excellent alternative to Genuine Mahogany which we recommend highly to our customers.

McIlvain lumberyard
McIlvain lumberyard

J. Gibson McIlvain Company

Since 1798, when Hugh McIlvain established a lumber business near Philadelphia, the McIlvain family has been immersed in the premium import and domestic lumber industry. With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods.

As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House, Capitol building, Supreme Court, and the Smithsonian museums.

Contact a representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling (800) 638-9100.

Filed Under: African Mahogany, Mahogany, Sapele, Utile

Sapele Wood – Suppliers & Wood FAQs

Last updated on October 2, 2013 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Sapele Wood Doors
Sapele Wood Doors

Sapele is a hardwood that is most famous for its unique and beautiful appearance. The boards of Sapele wood are comprised of an interlocking grain pattern that create ribbon stripes of alternative light and dark bands throughout the lumber. These attractive ribbons tend to be enhanced when the boards are quartersawn, and the wood is often used in veneer plywood in this application.

Although it is a hardwood and therefore holds details very well, Sapele is actually somewhat soft for a hardwood. It is, however, still harder than Genuine Mahogany, the wood for which it is often used as a substitute, but it is just as workable and gentle on cutting tools. Because of its workability and ability to hold moulded details, it is quite popular for use in custom millwork.

 

Flat & Quartersawn Sapele, side by side
Flat & Quartersawn Sapele, side by side

Sapele comes from the same family as Mahogany and Utile, but it does have a number of differences from these woods. Sapele is suitable for use as an exterior wood, but because of its fine grain, it is often painted in window and door applications. Most often, though, Sapele is prized in applications where appearance and an attractive grain pattern are of the utmost importance. The wood is often used, for example, in the manufacturing of musical instruments, where it is used to construct the wooden bodies of acoustic guitars, high end ukeleles, harps, and even some percussion instruments.

One of Sapele’s only drawbacks relates to its workability. Although the wood itself is not a problem to work, care should still be taken while doing so because Sapele is an extremely dusty wood. If proper precautions are not adhered to, the fine dust that is produced by the wood during the processes of sanding and machining can cause both skin irritation and respiratory problems. If precautionary measures are taken, however, the benefits of this wood far outweigh the risks involved with shaping it. Sapele is attractive and workable, and its low cost (about half that of Genuine Mahogany) makes it a viable option for a wide range of consumers and a variety of indoor and outdoor applications.

Read more about Sapele:

  • Utile is the best mahogany alternative
  • Short lumber is  undiscovered gold
  • Is there a shortage on thinner exotic lumber?

Filed Under: Sapele

Sapele Facts and Common Applications

Last updated on September 25, 2013 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Flat & Quartersawn Sapele

The exotic hardwood called Sapele is sourced in Africa and finds uses as flooring, doors and window frames, cabinetry, and musical instruments. Related to both Mahogany and Utile, Sapele is less expensive than both of those related woods, while sharing many of their prized characteristics as well its own distinctive traits.

Sapele is harder than the mahoganies but still on the softer side for a hardwood. For sake of comparison, on the Janka hardness scale, it rates 1500, making it 20% harder than Mahogany and slightly harder than both Sugar Maples and Red Oaks. The hardness of a wood contributes to its durability, but since Sapele dries quickly, proper stacking techniques are necessary in order to avoid warping. Its responsiveness to sawing and sanding make it ideal for flooring applications. It also responds well to machine and hand tooling, as well as to nailing, gluing, finishing techniques.

Sapele doors

For those working with Sapele, one caution is that its interlocking grain can cause tearing during the planing process. Another potential issue is that the fine dust can cause irritation to skin or respiratory difficulties due to inhalation.

Sapele seasons rapidly, causing its reddish-brown coloring to become darker and richer looking through the years. This seasoning makes Sapele aesthetically desirable, as does its unique graining. Sapele’s fine interlocking grain patterns change often, creating a striped effect, which can be enhanced through using quartersawn boards. (Quartersawn boards also boast more stability than other cuts of this wood.) The variegated ribbons of color showcase the seasoned hues. These unique aspects of the wood’s appearance make it a favorite for custom cabinetry and high-end furniture. Like Cedar, Sapele produces an attractive aroma that is repulsive to insects.

Sapele doorsSapele was used widely for decorative cabinetry in Europe, and particularly in Germany, even before the second World War. Once the war began, the wood’s remarkable strength made it ideal for Zeppelin propeller-blades. Since then, its typical uses have included window frames, custom doors, and flooring, as well as veneer for cabinets and book cases.

The tonal profile of Sapele mimics that of mahogany, but its appearance is distinct. For an interest-evoking guitar back, some high-end guitar companies use Sapele instead. Other instruments that use Sapele include folk guitars and ukuleles. Some percussion instrument manufacturers have begun to rely on Sapele for the strong, lively sound that it produces.

One niche application of Sapele is by auto manufacturer Cadillac, which includes Sapele wood accents in some of its luxury car models.

Because of Sapele’s strength and aesthetic appeal, it is a budget-friendly substitute for some of the more expensive exotic hardwoods. If you’ve been using Utile or Mahogany, be sure to ask the lumber specialists at J. Gibson McIlvain (click here) about whether substituting Sapele would work for your projects.

Read more from the J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber Company blog:

  • Sapele is the cream of the African Mahogany market
  • Utile is the best Genuine Mahogany alternative
  • African Mahogany shortage is indicative of a larger global issue

Filed Under: Sapele

Top Three Exotic Hardwoods From Africa

Last updated on September 25, 2013 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

At J. Gibson McIlvain, we import many tropical lumber species, many of which come from Africa. We are serious about quality, though, so before we form a relationship with a new source, our highly trained experts visit the lumber mill personally. During those initial visits, we check for sustainability efforts, continuous supply, and premium quality. We also complete thorough research to ensure legal and responsible harvesting and check the paper trail to help guarantee an untainted supply chain. By exercising this kind of caution before we form relationships, we are able to promise our customers that the African lumber they purchase from J. Gibson McIlvain is absolutely the best wood that Africa has to offer. In addition to Ipe, currently our top African seller, we also carry a wide assortment of Sapele, African Mahogany, and Utile.

Sapele

Sapele is in the same genus as Utile and the same family as Mahogany. This African beauty has a unique appearance, consisting of interlocking grain patterns that give the appearance of light and dark ribbon stripes weaving throughout the board. Usually quartersawn to highlight its attractive grain patterns, Sapele is commonly used for plywood veneer. Also often used for doors, this stable species works well for many exterior applications.

Because of Sapele’s consistent appearance, flatsawn Sapele takes moulded edging well; at the same time, quartersawn Sapele boasts increased stability. On the soft side for a hardwood, Sapele is gentle on tools, a characteristic that most woodworkers find quite positive. The fine dust that Sapele produces, though, can sometimes cause skin irritation and respiratory problems if proper precautions are not taken. Harder than Mahogany, Sapele tends to cost approximately half the price of Genuine Mahogany and less than Utile (a lumber that will be discussed below).

African Mahogany

Often compared to Genuine Mahogany from South America, African Mahogany is truly part of the Mahogany, or Khaya, family. The coloring is similar to the South American variety, a pale reddish brown,and the straight, interlocking grain and hardness of this lumber make it attractive on several levels. The variegated dark and light bands of color makes for an uncommon beauty, and the highest quality specimens machine and finish beautifully.

Well-suited to exterior applications, African Mahogany is commonly used for doors and windows and takes stain and paint quite well. Similar in stability to Genuine Mahogany, African Mahogany is much less expensive but similarly impressive.

Utile

Also referred to as “Sipo,” Utile is another African hardwood species often used as an alternative to Genuine Mahogany. Even more similar to the South American species than African Mahogany, Utile’s interlocking grain gives it the highly coveted appearance of tropical hardwood. Even though its light and dark bands lack the intense contrast of African Mahogany, Utile is easier to work with and has less of a tendency for tearout, making it preferable in many circles. With a hardness between that of African and Genuine Mahogany, Utile is increasingly plentiful due to responsible forestry practices.

The wide variability in terms of quality means that lumber mills must be careful when sourcing Utile, though, and because of this, J. Gibson McIlvain has spent much time carefully researching the import regions and lumber mills most likely to produce the best examples of Utile. Exterior uses, cabinetry, and millwork are common end uses for this prized tropical hardwood species.

One of the nation’s oldest and most reputable lumber importers and wholesalers, McIlvain Company is your go-t0 supplier for high quality hardwoods, softwoods, plywoods, millwork, and more. For over 200 years, McIlvain has been supplying some of the most discerning customers in America with the lumber they need for their projects, both large and small. And with McIlvain’s extensive inventory, nationwide shipping, and unmatched expertise, it’s no wonder they’re one of the nation’s top suppliers of high quality lumber. For more information on what makes McIlvain an industry leader or to request a free quote on your order, click here to visit our website. And for insider tips and woodworking tricks, check out these selections from our lumber blog:

  • Why Choose McIlvain?
  • Choosing the Right Plywood for the Job
  • The Lumber Drying Process

Filed Under: African Mahogany, Exotic Hardwood, Sapele

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