Sapele
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Sapele is a popular African hardwood often used as a mahogany substitute, prized for its reddish color and distinctive ribbon stripe figure when quarter-sawn. It is widely used in furniture, flooring, and musical instruments. The wood works well though interlocked grain requires care to avoid tearout.
Botanical Profile
Entandrophragma cylindricum is a large deciduous tree native to tropical Africa from Ivory Coast to Uganda, typically reaching 45-60 meters in height. It grows in rainforests and produces winged seeds. The tree is one of several African mahogany species exploited for timber.
Physical Properties
The heartwood ranges from golden to dark reddish-brown with a distinctive ribbon stripe figure when quarter-sawn. It has a fine to medium texture with interlocked grain. Dried weight averages 640 kg/m³ with a Janka hardness of 1,410 lbf. Moderately stable with good dimensional stability.
Workshop Notes
Blunting Effect
Moderate to high
Gluing Advice
Good gluing properties
Finishing
Excellent - takes stain and polish beautifully
Steam Bending
Moderate - interlocked grain can make bending difficult
Historical Context
Sapele became commercially important as African mahogany species were explored in the 19th and 20th centuries. It gained popularity as a genuine mahogany substitute when Honduran mahogany became scarce. Today it is a mainstay of furniture and flooring manufacture with sustainable sourcing increasingly important.
Technical Specs
Vulnerable in some regions; check FSC certification for sustainable sourcing