• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Marketinia

Marketing Solutions for Moving Forward

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Business
    • Construction
    • Family
    • Fitness
    • Furniture
    • Health
    • Swimming Pool
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us

Sapele, the Prince of African Exotic Hardwood Lumber

Last updated on January 9, 2013 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

sapele lumber air dryingSourced in Africa, Sapele is a prince among exotic hardwoods. While Sapele boasts many of the characteristics prized in both Utile and the Mahoganies, it comes with a lower price tag. Popular uses for this premier lumber species include cabinetry, flooring, door and window frames, and even some musical instruments. How exactly does it compare to the higher priced exotic hardwoods? Read on to find out.

Hardness

While it’s on the soft side as far as hardwoods go, Sapele is still a little harder than Red Oak and Sugar Maple and a full 20% harder than the celebrated Mahoganies. Of course, the harder the wood, the more durable it is. Because Sapele dries at a faster rate than many hardwoods, it’s necessary to use proper stacking techniques in order to prohibit warping.

Flat vs Quartersawn Sapele board
Flat vs Quartersawn Sapele board

Workability

Because Sapele is responsive to sawing and sanding, it works well for flooring. In addition, this species is responsive to both machine and hand tooling as well as gluing, nailing, and various finishing techniques. The wood’s interlocking grain can cause tearout during planing, though, and the fine dust resulting from sawing, planing, or sanding can cause skin irritations or breathing difficulties.

Attractiveness

The rapid seasoning of Sapele makes its rich, reddish coloring darken over the years. Sapele’s unique graining patterns include fine, interlocking grains that work to create a striped effect, which is brought out when boards are quartersawn. The ribboned effect highlights the dark, reddish brown hue that has become popular in high-end furnishings and custom cabinets. In addition to its color, Sapele’s attractive aroma resists insects, promoting its durability.

Applications

sapele wood doorsEarly uses of Sapele include decorative European (and particularly German) cabinetry, followed by Zeppelin propeller blades during World War II. More recent uses include flooring, custom doors, window frames, and veneer for cabinets and book cases. Because Sapele’s tonal profile is similar to that of Mahogany, some manufacturers of stringed and percussion instruments utilize Sapele as well as Mahogany. From guitars and ukuleles to exotic-sounding drums, Sapele produces a strong, lively sound. Another unusual application of this wood includes motor vehicle interiors, such as luxury Cadillac models that proudly advertise their beautiful Sapele wood accents.

Due to its hardness, workability, and attractiveness, Sapele is suitable for a variety of both interior and exterior applications. Unlike many other similarly celebrated exotic hardwoods, though, this exotic hardwood species comes with a more budget-friendly price tag. To find out whether Sapele would be a suitable replacement for Utile or Mahogany on your next project, you can ask the experts at J. Gibson McIlvain lumber. Since we supply all three species of wood (and more!), we’ll be able to provide you with whichever lumber type you choose.

Contact the J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber Company today for mid to large quantity orders of Sapele. We ship nationwide throughout the contiguous United States as well as to Hawaii, Alaska and the Caribbean Islands. Call us toll free at (800) 638-9100 or submit our online contact form.

Learn more about exotic woods

  • Things to consider when buying Teak lumber
  • Plenty of Ipe in stock for rebuilding storm-ruined beach boardwalks
  • African Mahogany shortage is indicative of a larger global issue

Filed Under: Construction

Additional Articles

disney boardwalk ipe
Ipe Lumber – An Introduction to This Amazing Wood
young teen girl leaning against pool wall
Keeping Up with Swimming Pool Material Innovation, Part 2
young toddler girl jumping into swimming pool
Keeping Up with Swimming Pool Material Innovation, Part 1
completed ipe back deck and stairs
Ipe Wood: An Unusual Lumber Species, Part 3
fresh ipe wood deck
Ipe Wood: An Unusual Lumber Species, Part 2
ipe decking boards
Ipe Wood: An Unusual Lumber Species, Part 1

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

fifteen − 13 =



Primary Sidebar

Lyon Financial

Featured Articles

  • Marine Grade Plywood Uses and Facts
  • Should I Use Genuine Mahogany or African Mahogany?
  • Product Review of NuCedar Materials
  • Cracks in Large Timbers: What Can You Do To Prevent Them?
  • Genuine Mahogany vs. African Mahogany
  • How to find an Alternative to Ipe as Prices Rise
  • What Is the Ideal Gap Between Decking Boards?
  • Wood Decking Species Choices: Red Balau
  • Pros & Cons of Tropical Decking Fastening Systems
  • Wood Decking Species Choices: Jatoba
X10 Home Automation

Popular Articles

  • How to Keep Track of Your Flash Drive
  • Stretching: Can There Be Too Much of a Good Thing?
  • Benefits of Ambidexterity
  • Should I Use Genuine Mahogany or African Mahogany?
  • Marine Grade Plywood Uses and Facts
  • How Much Is Your Trucking Business Worth?
  • What’s All the Excitement over X10 Home Automation?
  • Product Review of NuCedar Materials
  • Heated Driveway Installation by D'Amico Electric of Westchester, NY
  • The Truth About Recovering from Shoulder Labral Repair Surgery
  • Encourage Healthy Choices by Adding a Pool to Your Backyard

Reader Feedback

  • Afton Jackson on Preparing for Your Pool Design Consultation: Additional Steps
  • Zachary Tomlinson on Benefits of a Swimming Pool for a Healthy Lifestyle
  • Alice Carroll on Gymnastics Tips: Back to the Basics with 6 Beginner Moves
  • Alice Carroll on The Vinyl Liner Pool Owner’s Guide to Swimming Pool Repairs
  • Alice Carroll on Concrete Sealer: What You Need to Know, Part 2
  • Alice Carroll on Vinyl Liner Options for Your New Swimming Pool
  • Afton Jackson on Pros & Cons of Fiberglass Swimming Pool Liners

Copyright © 2023 Sozo Firm Inc · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Sitemap