Genuine Mahogany
(Swietenia macrophylla or humilis)
Since the arrival of the Spanish, westerners have been cutting down and exporting Mahogany in mass quantities from Central America. Genuine Mahogany, native to Central and Latin America, is one of the world’s best known and most expensive woods. It is hard, yet lighter than most hardwoods, has a very straight grain and is perfect for furniture and doors. The demand for Mahogany has placed it on the worldwide list of Endangered Species (CITES) as most of the old growth Mahogany has been logged out of Central America. The growth cycle for genuine Mahogany is 25-35 years and it tends to prosper in shaded areas mixed with other species.
More about the species
Family: Meliaceae
Scientific Name: Swietenia macrophylla
Other Names: Caoba (throughout Latin America), Acajou (French-speaking areas).
Workability: Very easy to work with hand and machine tools. Torn and chipped grain is common with figured material. Easy to finish and takes an excellent polish. Slices and rotary cuts into fine veneer.
Drying: The wood can be air-seasoned and kiln-dried easily without appreciable warping or checking. Kiln schedule T6-D4 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-D3 for 8/4. Movement after manufacture is rated as small.
Durability: Generally, heartwood rates as durable in resistance to a brown-rot and a white-rot fungus. Moderately resistant to dry-wood termites and little resistance attack by marine borers.
Uses: Fine furniture and cabinet making, interior trim, paneling, fancy veneers, musical instruments, boat building, pattern making, turnery, and carving.
Technical Data
Janka hardness: 800 lbs
Density: 400 Kg/m3 or 0.40 g/cm3
Bending strength: 11,590 psi
Modulous of elasticity: 1,420 (1,000 psi)
Tangential shrinkage: 4.1%
Radial shrinkage: 3%
* All values given at 12% moisture content.