If you see furniture made of wood with a reddish-brown tinge, chances are it is made of mahogany. It’s a very popular choice for woodworking projects and in this article we’ll discuss why.
Color
The Mahogany tree can be found growing in different parts of Central and South America, West Indies, and West Africa. While the bark is a deep brown-red color, when it’s freshly cut, it appears pink or salmon-colored.
Its iconic reddish-brown color is achieved through aging. When the wood matures, it goes from pink to a darker reddish-brown.
Strength, Durability, and Integrity
Aside from its color, mahogany is known for being a very strong and durable wood. Solid wood can be categorized into two: soft wood or hard wood. Mahogany falls under the latter category along with maple, oak, walnut, and ash.
Hardwood is highly sought-after because furniture made from this material can last years. Aside from being strong and durable, it’s also known for maintaining its integrity. Even in areas that are humid and has high moisture, mahogany isn’t prone to either swelling or shrinking.
Types
Because Mahogany is highly sought-after for furniture making, a lot of companies have used “mahogany” as a marketing tag. Some types of wood are labelled mahogany even though they aren’t exactly botanically connected to one another.
One of the most popular mahogany type is the African Mahogany although initially, it wasn’t as popular. In fact, it owes its popularity to the South American Mahogany.
In 2003, the South American Mahogany was declared an Endangered Species. People had to find a substitute and the African Mahogany was the next best thing. They weren’t botanically connected but their similarities are uncanny, aside from the African Mahogany being a little bit more brittle.
Most of the wood in the markets labelled mahogany are African Mahogany. However, there are other types marketed as either a type of mahogany or a substitute of mahogany.
Among these are Sapele and Sipo. The former has a finer texture and more consistency in color. The former is a European favorite – it has a lighter color, but it grows in fewer places than other mahogany substitutes, so prices are a bit more expensive.
Advantages and Disadvantages
First and foremost, it’s strength and durability. When furniture is made from mahogany, it’s sure to last a long time. This hardwood doesn’t get deformed, which makes it great for large woodworking projects like long dinner tables.
It’s also known as the royal household furniture because let’s face it, mahogany isn’t cheap. But you get what you pay for and more because it lasts a long time and it looks beautiful.
Mahogany has beautiful patterns and textures. No single one looks the same. The patterns vary from circles to winding strands.
Another advantage is the Mahogany’s aroma. It has a unique fragrance that termites don’t like. Termites are the worst for wooden furniture so it’s pretty handy that furniture made from mahogany has built in defense against that problem.
As for disadvantages, cost is on top of the list. However, another issue comes into play. Because of the big demand for mahogany furniture, there are a lot of fake products.
There are a lot of mahogany substitutes that look very similar to the actual wood, so consumers should be very careful when shopping.
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