Botanical Name: Entandrophragma cylindricum
Janka Hardness: 1510 – 75% harder than Genuine Mahogany.
Appearance: The contrast between its heartwood (often ranging from medium to coppery reddish brown) and its pale sapwood makes for a beautiful shiny appearance. Interlocked grain produces beautiful ribbon pattern on quarter-sawn Sapele.
Properties: Moderate-to-good dimensional stability. Easily workable wood, even with interlocked grain having a tendency to sometimes tear during planing. Very stable and durable wood, highly resistant to rot.
Finishing: Sapele responds to finishes easily.
Applications: Sapele is an extremely popular wood for flooring and furniture. Other great uses include paneling, plywood, veneering, and boat-building.
Is Sapele a “Mahogany”? The answer would be “YES!” Sapele belongs to the Meliceae family, which is the Mahogany family. With the availability of genuine Mahogany drying up, Sapele has emerged as an excellent substitute. It is very well-liked by furniture makers, DIYers, and homeowners.