They're used universally to build cabinets, desks, molding, trim and other household items. Sapele vs Meranti. Sapele definition, the mahoganylike wood of any of several African trees of the genus Entandrophragma, used for making furniture. I have both and like both for their respective traits. I would expect end grain to be a bit darker, after oil is applied, but not as dark as walnut. Cherry can be more brown than maple, and will oxidize to a deeper brown colour over time, but it will not be as dark as walnut. Joined: 30 Aug 2010 Messages: 514 Thanks Received: 1 Location: London Country: I got a qoute for hardwood sash windows in Meranti and Sapele. These woods have different and unique sounds and we hope this video helps to illustrate the differences between Mahogany and Rosewood and the E10D vs the E20D. Sponsored Links; Burnerman. Similar in appearance and tone to Genuine Mahogany, Sapele exhibits a powerful midrange, great punch and bright and airy trebles. It is also good for painting, due to its fine graining. He said that both SA mahogany and sapele were known for resin vapors escaping from the wood when it's exposed to lots of direct sun. An African tone wood closely related to Mahogany, Sapele is similar in both look and sound. Cuban Mahogany, Swietenia mahogani (genus and species names), the Wood of Kings, has been among the most prized and valuable timbers since the late 16th century. Sapele Wood can also be used in interior and exterior usage and is actually a cost-effective alternative to Spanish Cedar or Western Red Cedar. Sapele is in the same family as Mahogany and it therefore, shares many of the same qualities. Body shape and bracing will also affect tone, in either wood. Different from mahogany: Sapele is a star in its own right, and has its own unique characteristics. Discussion in 'Windows and Doors' started by Yukster, 26 Jan 2016. It does a good job of breaking down the difference in the three materials. Sapele Wood also has beautiful ribboning when quarter sawn as you can see in the video. I like the 000-15 a lot. Sapele is valued because of it’s figuring and stripes that really stand out when finished. Sapele is part of the family of woods which includes the many mahogany species. This mahogany species is the wood that planked the ships of the Spanish Armada. Additionally Sapele grows with an interlocking grain pattern where the fibers twist around the tree as they grow. ... Wood is light enough to vibrate freely yet strong enough to withstand the tension of steel strings. Occasional quilted, curly and or mottled figure can be present. Sapele is much harder than Genuine Mahogany and the highly interlocked grain pattern makes it difficult to work. Also whether it will need staining if we want it to match the depth of colour of our old door - internet search reveals both Sapele and Utile to be rather lighter in colour than the old mahogany. Native to tropical Africa, Sapele Mahogany is a medium textured and moderately dense exotic hardwood that is excellent for wood flooring applications. Some call it an inexpensive mahogany. Sapele Mahogany: DESCRIPTION: Reddish brown in color. Share Tweet. It’s sometimes mistakenly referred to as African mahogany because it closely resembles the West African wood khaya, which is commercially known as African mahogany. Thanks Yukster, 26 Jan 2016 #1. The Timber Durability Database is a table of durability grades/ratings by wood type, with images to match. Hardwood vs Softwood – Sapele or Accoya Doors and Windows. Sapele – Entandrophragma cylindricum. 105. The naranti qoute is £900 (10%) chepear. Goes Well With: Everything. Most seem to agree that hog and sapele are pretty similiar in terms of back and sides, but the top has the most influence on sound, so I'd be curious if many can … It covers quality, color, grain, weight, drying, workability, durability, and usage. I'll break down the pros and cons, based on our experience, so you have a better idea of why these have become our favoured choices. The Sapele seemed like Balsa wood - porous, soft, and light weight. The color of Sapele is a dark brownish-red and can sometimes move into a purplish-red hue. Red oak and mahogany typify tradition in the United States. Oak has traditionally been a popular choice for bespoke doors and windows as it is a strong, durable and beautiful hardwood. Sapele timber, also known as Sapele mahogany, is a reddish-brown hardwood. Sapele has become popular as a more moderately priced substitute for the more traditional Genuine Mahogany. The name sapele comes from that of the city of Sapele in Nigeria, where there is a preponderance of the tree.African Timber and Plywood (AT&P), a division of the United Africa Company, had a factory at this location where the wood, along with Triplochiton scleroxylon, Obeche, mahogany, and Khaya was processed into timber which was then exported from the Port of Sapele worldwide. One question that is very common and quite relevant to most archtop players is the difference between maple and mahogany when used on the back and sides of an archtop. Sapele wood is of medium hardness with a Janka rating of 1510 lbs making is harder than most domestic North American Species and almost twice as hard as Genuine Mahogany. justinM. In addition, not all of them have the same density, color, and stability of Sapele. … Here at the J. Gibson McIlvain Company we separate all our Sapele into Flat Sawn (cathedral) and Quarter Sawn (straight) grain. It’s darker in color, heavier, and exhibits more varieties of figured grain (pommele, ribbon-stripe, etc.). A significant up charge is typical for figured material. Sapele Vs Mahogany Entry for ... because at this point you still think that "mahogany" is a specific wood and not a generic term... and your speaking about experience . See more. Sapele/mahogany will usually have a brighter and less complex tone than rosewood, which is darker and has "swirling overtones" (my term). We created some useful graphics that show these details – they’re good for quickly referencing each timber, or you can print them off and keep them in your workshop! Guitar Advice, Recent update | Archtop Guitars, Article, Mahogany, Maple, Tonewoods. Sapele is a widely used and popular redwood, similar to mahogany, with a deep, rich finish suited to furniture projects, conservatories and much more. When flat sawn it is a nice alternative for Mahogany. justinM. Post Sep 25, 2011 #1 2011-09-25T03:33. Windows can be made in Oak, Idigbo, Iroko, Sapele, Accoya and European Redwood. The range of wood we have found best for making Hardwood vs Softwood Windows. Sapele is much harder and stiffer than the Mahoganies, and it’s know for being difficult to bend. Its interlocked grain also mean it’s a bit more challenging to work with than genuine mahogany. Is the Sapele superior to Meranti? Registered Member. However, there are different types of hardwood that have been categorized as African mahogany. The more harder the wood, the brighter it seems to be. The typical concern is mostly aesthetics and cost. The timber is stable, moderately durable against decay (class three durable), and moderately resistant to insects. Virtually knot free, long lasting and takes to paint well, it can also stain up nicely and is reminiscent of Mahogany. Attributes similar to red spruce, it’s powerful, clear and vibrant. This veneer has a fine grain, a distinct and desirable stripe formation, and often carries a lively figure. Whilst we commonly … Sapele is characterised by its heavy strength and durability, interlocked grain and natural lustre. Sapele is a highly sustainable West African tonewood that’s often confused with the West African wood Khaya. Hailing from Africa, Sapele contains an interlocking grain that produces light and dark ribbon stripes throughout the boards. 24 March 2015 at 5:22PM edited 24 March 2015 at 6:05PM. We use laminated sapele on the top, back and sides of our entry level Honu models. Likewise with softer woods being more warm. We’ll be able to offer it for a long, long time. Sapele Sapele is a very popular tonewood used primarily on entry level ukuleles. Very similar in appearance and workability to mahogany. Yukster. Sapele offers many of the same characteristics as Genuine Mahogany. I think the 15m's are all made exclusively of mahogany and they come with a bone saddle, ebony bridge pins, open back tuners and an upgraded rosette. RED SPRUCE PICEA RUBENS. 105. Based on this, albeit limited, experience I would not consider Sapele for windows. Sapele Tonewood goes is a great all-purpose tonewood that works for many different applications. So the Sapele was not ordered - the client would not accept the bleached appearance. Sapele tone is very similar to Mahogany it has a warm, rich, and wood tone. The grain will shift as your perspective changes. He said that these vapors are transparent to latex primer but are trapped by glossy acrylic finish coats like the MoorGlo that was used in this project. Tear out in the grain is common and special care needs to be taken when milling. Differences between them are insignificant when considering durability, application and longevity. At Rural Timber, we combine traditional craftmanship with modern technology to create timber doors, window frames, conservatories and other items that are designed to last. leveller2911. Timber Durability Chart. Ultimately, you will need to become familiar with the body types and woods and decide your preferences. What I've found is that there seems to be a direct correlation between the density of the wood and the tone. Sapele vs Mahogany as a top wood . I like sapele, so it would make no difference to me if I got one made of sapele or mahogany. Archtop Tonewoods: Maple vs. Mahogany. I'm curious as to wether you fellows think sapele has a different tone when used as a top wood. 0. Finishing brings out an intense depth of color and highlights its natural luster, which is similar to mahogany. Tonally, it does everything that mahogany does, with a little extra treble zing. Sapele wood is a medium to dark reddish-brown or purplish-brown. However, that's not the full story. Our sister company Thompson Mahogany did a great write up comparing African Mahogany vs Sapele vs Utile Lumber. Smoothness of … A lot of companies choose Idigbo as their first choice for painted hardwood, but we find Sapele to be more durable, longer lasting, and a nicer wood to work with and finish. Overall a very uniformly colored wood. Sapele is commonly quartersawn to enhance these attractive ribbons, and it is often used as a veneer for plywood in this application. Sapele Decking will often be advertised as a specific type of the African mahogany. It features golden to dark reddish brown coloring that is often more consistent than that of other Mahogany species. Sapele is a African Redwood with some similarities to African Mahogany. I like the look of some sapele wood better than mahogany. In some point, this may be accepted since it is a part of the mahogany family. Sapele is used as our standard hardwood of choice when a painted finish is required. 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