Sapele

Sapele’s  Color and Appearance[/caption]

Sapele, native to tropical Africa, is a versatile hardwood known for its rich golden to reddish-brown tones that darken with age. When freshly milled, it is often a much lighter color but darkens to its darker reddish-brown tones relatively quickly when exposed to sunlight. With a fine to medium texture, it is moderately hard and durable.  Commonly used for furniture, it is prized for its strength, stability, and visual appeal, making it a popular choice for fine woodworking.

Grain and Texture

The grain is typically interlocked, creating beautiful ribbon, quilted, or pommele figures in some cuts.

Workability and Staining Characteristics

It machines, sands, and finishes well, producing a polished surface through the interlocked grain can cause tear-out when planning.  It accepts stain well, although in many applications the wood is left to darken on its own or stained with a mahogany stain to speed up the ageing process.

Sapele Specifications

Common Names: Sapele, sapelli, sapeli mahogany

Scientific Name: Entandrophragma cylindricum

Average Dried Weight: 1.54 lbs per board foot

Janka Hardness:  1,630 Pounds-Force

What to Commission a Piece?

Learn More about the Custom Furniture Design Process

Sapele Furniture

Here are examples of my custom furniture featuring Sapele, either as the main wood species or as an accent.