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Mahogany- Swietenia macrophylla
Mahogany is a medium-sized hardwood, native to Central America including the West Indies, Cuba and the adjacent
mainland from Mexico to Brazil. Due to its excellent growth, it is now being planted in other tropical areas including the
Solomon Islands.
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Naturally-grown mahogany is one of the world's classic furniture timbers. It is also a good
plantation species, exhibiting excellent growth and form. It has good market potential as plantation
material comes to maturity.
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The timber is highly decorative and can be placed in two colour categories of red-brown and yellow/orange
brown. The timbers darken in colour on exposure to light. A distinct cathedral-like pattern can be observed
on back-sawn material; a broad, banded or ribbon figure is evident on quarter-sawn faces due to interlocked
grain. The timber also produces flared streaks due to changing grain patterns. Small, tight pin-knots are
sometimes visible, which adds to the timber's decorative appeal.
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The timber dries readily with little degrade. It can be kiln-dried from the green condition (in 25mm boards)
but thicker stock should undergo preliminary air-drying to 25-30% m.c. Quartersawn material is slower to dry
than back-sawn. Care is required when determining moisture content of mixed sawn stock. The timber has a
low shrinkage rate and is stable in-service.
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Mahogany is easy to work with both machine and hand tools. Cutter edges need to be kept well
sharpened and cutter angles adjusted to ensure a high quality, smooth finish, since bands of woolliness can
arise, when machining material from immature stems, due to the presence of tension wood.
Other Names:
- Trade Names: Honduras mahogany, Cuban mahogany, Spanish mahogany, Fiji mahogany, American mahogany
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