Mahogany is a high quality timber used for furniture, cabinetmaking and joinery. Although grown naturally across a large range, it has become a popular plantation timber in many countries.
The timber is very attractive and works easily with excellent finishing qualities and dimensional stability. This makes it a very popular choice for the manufacture of high quality furniture.
Botanical Name: Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae)
Other Common Names: Big Leaf Mahogany, Mahogany, Mahoni and many others
Technical Information
| Colour | The heartwood is reddish or pinkish, the colour darkening with age and exposure. |
| Grain | The grain of the wood is interlocked, sometimes straight, with a fine to moderately coarse texture. The surface is glossy, and the timber is often nicely figured because of the irregular grain. |
| Strength | S6: SD7 |
| Structural Ratings | F11 |
| Hardness (Janka) | 3.55kN |
| Termite Resistance | Nonresistant. Treated stock available. |
| Shrinkage to 12% MC | Low – (2% radial – 3.2% tangential) |
| Durability above ground | Class 3; 5 -15 years life expectancy |
| Durability in ground | Class 3; 5 -15 years life expectancy |
| Working properties | Mahogany is easy to work with and has excellent finishing qualities and dimensional stability. Planes well. Nails well. Glues well. Sands to a very fine finish and will take a good polish |
| Uses | Mahogany is used for high-grade furniture & cabinet making, joinery, windows, doors, construction materials, & veneers. It is also suitable for panelling, framing, flooring, & interior trim of boats, musical instruments, mouldings & turning. |