Sapele vs mahogany
Sapele is sold alongside the mahoganies and looks much like them. It is much harder and heavier than either, and moves more.
- Sapele is about 89% harder than true mahogany.
- Sapele is about 27% heavier than true mahogany.
- Sapele has about 86% more movement across a flatsawn board than true mahogany.
- Sapele is about 82% harder than african mahogany.
- Sapele is about 35% heavier than african mahogany.
- Sapele has about 68% more movement across a flatsawn board than african mahogany.
Each column is the species its page leads with: true mahogany for mahogany, african mahogany for African mahogany.
Side by side
| Property | Sapele | Mahogany | African mahogany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janka hardness, 12% MC | 1,510 lbf | 800 lbf | 830 lbf |
| Weight, 12% MC | 42 lb/ft³ (673 kg/m³) | 33 lb/ft³ (529 kg/m³) | 31 lb/ft³ (497 kg/m³) |
| Specific gravity, 12% MC | — | — | — |
| Tangential shrinkage | 7.4% | 4.1% | 4.5% |
| Radial shrinkage | 4.6% | 3.0% | 2.5% |
| 12 in flatsawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.189 in | 0.102 in | 0.112 in |
| 12 in quartersawn board, 6% → 12% MC | 0.115 in | 0.074 in | 0.061 in |
| Bending strength (MOR), 12% MC | 15,300 psi | 11,500 psi | 10,700 psi |
| Stiffness (MOE), 12% MC | 1.82 million psi | 1.5 million psi | 1.4 million psi |
| Crushing strength, 12% MC | 8,160 psi | 6,780 psi | 6,460 psi |
One source: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, the authority for species properties it measured
Wood Handbook Tables 5-5b and 4-4; weight and movement worked with its Eqs. 4-14 and 13-4. A dash means the Handbook prints no value.
What sets them apart
- Strength
- The Handbook says sapele’s mechanical properties are generally higher than white oak’s, and compares true mahogany’s strength with American elm’s. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-29 and 2-36)
- Grain
- Sapele’s grain is interlocked and gives narrow, even striping on quartersawn faces, but makes it hard to plane. True mahogany’s grain is generally straighter than African mahogany’s, whose grain is frequently interlocked. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-29 and 2-36)
- Durability
- True mahogany is rated durable against decay; sapele and African mahogany are rated moderately durable. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-29 and 2-36)
- Uses
- Sapele goes into furniture, cabinetwork, joinery, flooring and decorative plywood. The mahoganies go into fine furniture, cabinets, interior woodwork, boats and veneer. (Wood Handbook, p. 2-29 and 2-36)
For any other pair, open each species page from the wood hub; every page uses the same layout and the same sources.