Overview
Mahogany is a strong durable and extremely attractive hardwood, widely used for making quality furniture, cabinet, and flooring. The color of Mahogany is naturally reddish-brown which is known for its attractive color.
Generally, Mahogany grain is straight but sometimes it can be irregular and interlocked. Mahogany’s heartwood is a naturally durable and rot-resistant wood. It is known for its strength. Mahogany Wood is suitable for interior and exterior furniture.
There are six types of mahogany, but true mahogany is only three and one is too close to mahogany. Genuine mahogany is as follows: Honduras mahogany (Swietenia humilis), Mexican Mahogany(S. humilis), Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia Mahogani). African mahogany is very close to genuine mahogany.
African mahogany and Genuine mahogany, these are types of mahogany. The African mahogany is very close to genuine mahogany. Let us understand from the image given below.
African Mahogany (Ate sap. (Khaya Anthotheca, C. Grandifoliola, C. Bivorensis, C. Senegalesis))
African mahogany is a part of the Meliaceae family. It is true mahogany and generally accepted as close enough to genuine mahogany, native to West tropical Africa.
It is a medium-sized tree. The length of the tree is about 100-130 ft (30-40 m) and the trunk diameter is 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m).
The heartwood is pale pink to a deeper reddish-brown with streaks and the sapwood is light brown. African mahogany color tends to darken with age.
It has a straight grain to interlocked. There may be irregular, or wavy grains in some parts. The wood texture is uniform, with a good natural luster.
Hardness and weight: Its Janka hardness is 1,070 lbf (4,760 N). Average Dried weight is 40 lbs/ft3 (640 kg/m3).
Workability: Generally African Mahogany is easy to work with all types of machines. Tearout can sometimes be a problem if the grain is interlocked. Bending properties is not very good. But Turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.
Uses: Veneer, plywood, turned items, furniture, boatbuilding, and interior trim.
Genuine Mahogany
Honduran Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla)
Honduran Mahogany is also known as Genuine Mahogany, big-leaf mahogany, Brazilian mahogany, American mahogany. It is Distributed from Southern Mexico to central South America.
It is a large-sized tree. The length of its tree is about 150-200 ft (46-60 m) and trunk diameter is 3-6 ft (1-2 m).
The color of the heartwood is pale pinkish brown to a darker reddish-brown and the sapwood is light brown. It is usually has straight, interlocked, irregular, or wavy. The texture is medium and uniform, with a moderate natural luster.
Hardness and weight: Its Janka hardness is 900 lbf (4,020 N). The average Dried weight is 900 lbf (4,020 N).
Workability: Generally very easy to work with hand and machine tools. Sometimes there may be irregular and interlocked grain patterns. Turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.
Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, turned objects, veneer, musical instruments, boatbuilding, and carving.
Mexican Mahogany
Mexican mahogany is a medium-sized tree native to Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama
It is a large-sized tree. The length of its tree is about 60-100 ft (18-30 m) and trunk diameter is 1.50-2 ft.
Hardness: Mexican Mahogany is a medium-density hardwood.
Workability: Easy to work, Due to sufficient density, it holds the nail and screw well. Finishes well and looks smooth and uniform.
Uses: Furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and turned objects.
Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia Mahogani)
Cuban Mahogany is also known as West Indies Mahogany. It is native to Southern Florida and the Caribbean.
It is a medium-sized tree. The length of the tree is about 65-100 ft (20-30 m) and the trunk diameter is 3-5 ft (1.0-1.5 m).
Cuban Mahogany wood can come in many colors. But generally, the heartwood is pale pinkish brown to a darker reddish-brown and the sapwood is light brown.
It usually has a straight grain but may have interlocked, irregular, or wavy grains. The wood texture is uniform, with a natural luster.
Hardness and weight: Its Janka hardness is 930 lbf (4,120 N). Average Dried weight is 37 lbs/ft3 (600 kg/m3).
Workability: Working with Cuban Mahogany is easy. Sometimes there may be irregular and interlocked grain patterns. Sands easily. Turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.
Uses: Furniture, cabinets, musical instruments, turnings, veneers, musical instruments, boatbuilding, and carving.