Phone Hours
Monday–Friday 8:30am–8pm EST
Saturday 8am–3pm EST
Sunday Closed
Closed 8/31–9/2 for Labor Day
DESCRIPTION | Reddish brown in color. Overall a very uniformly colored wood. Very similar in appearance and workability to mahogany. The wood displays a beautiful chatoyance. The grain will shift as your perspective changes. Occasional quilted, curly and or mottled figure can be present. A significant up charge is typical for figured material. Material is often sorted for “ribbon stripe” which would consist of the quarter and rift sawn boards a moderate up charge for the “ribbon” material. Sapele is pleasantly fragrant when cut. |
INDIGENOUS HABITAT | Tropical Africa |
BOTANICAL NAME | Entandrophragma cylindricum |
OTHER NAMES | Sapele, Sapelli, Sapeli |
WORKING PROPERTIES | It's highly recommended to be patient and work slow if machining Sapele because of its interlocked grain. Working with a beautiful wood like Sapele will yield amazing pieces, but it does have a blunting effect on blades and drill bits. Sapele finishes and glues very well but can become discolored and stained if it's in direct contact with iron. |
USES | Sapele is a type of African Mahogany used for boats, fine furniture, and cabinetry. |
COMMENTS | Color is similar to South American Mahogany (Sweitenia Mahogoni) and also to African Mahogany (Khaya Ivorensis). We have a great supply of Sapele lumber. Call for pricing and availability. 1-877-232-3915 |