philippine mahogany hardness

Full Answer

Are mahoganies in the Philippines hard to source?

But as this article states the Philippine mahoganies are even more difficult to source consistently (and sustainably) than African. I suspect your best bet is to stick with African but get more specific about which species you source.

What is Philippine dark red mahogany?

Philippine dark red mahogany is a tropical hardwood typically found in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Part of the extensive Shorea species, it is a popular export timber and widely used as an alternative to teak. The heartwood of the dark red mahogany comes in various shades of red, from pale pink to deep red brown.

Is mahogany rot resistant?

The Philippine Mahogany that was made so famous by the classic Chris Craft boats of last century was actually not terribly rot resistant, and the bugs loved the stuff. It was only with substantial top coating and additional work that the material became durable enough for marine applications.

What are the characteristics of mahogany?

Click the heading name for detailed information in the Wood Library. Genuine Mahogany ranks among the finest cabinetry wood in the world. Its working characteristics are outstanding for all processes, including cutting, shaping, turning, and sanding. The grain is moderately open so filling is required to obtain a glass smooth finish.

Is Philippine mahogany wood durable?

The Philippine Mahogany that was made so famous by the classic Chris Craft boats of last century was actually not terribly rot resistant, and the bugs loved the stuff. It was only with substantial top coating and additional work that the material became durable enough for marine applications.

Is Philippine mahogany good?

Philippine Mahogany/Meranti has been used for centuries as a less expensive substitute for Mahogany and is an excellent choice for everything from structural work, boat building, outdoor furniture, and decking.

What is the hardest mahogany?

If the naming of Santos Mahogany (Myroxylon balsamum) seemed to push the limits in terms of comparative density with genuine mahogany, then Mountain Mahogany is completely over the top. It is actually one of the densest and hardest woods in the United States—the dried wood is heavy enough to sink in water.

Is mahogany soft or hard?

Oak, mahogany, and teak are some of the better-known species of hardwoods, while pine, spruce, and fir are common softwoods.

Is Philippine mahogany a hardwood?

Philippine dark red mahogany is a tropical hardwood typically from South East Asia and widely used as an alternative to teak.

What is the hardest wood in the Philippines?

Timber. Xanthostemon verdugonianus is known to be the hardest Philippine hardwood species.

Which is better narra or mahogany?

Mahogany is the cheapest, while Narra is the most expensive of the three. We usually recommend Tanguile to our clients because it can be used for door frames, furniture, and stair treads. It also behaves better compared to Mahogany in terms of material 'movement' since it 'moves' less than Mahogany,” they explain.

Which variety of mahogany is best?

Swietenia macrophylla is also commonly referred to as Peruvian mahogany, big leaf mahogany, bigleaf mahogany, Honduran mahogany or Honduras mahogany. It is the most common substitute for Cuban mahogany, which is hailed as one of the best woods for furniture.

Is mahogany stronger than oak?

Mahogany is a hardwood, it is harder and more durable than oak, but softer than maple.

Is mahogany The hardest wood?

Because of having incredible strength, Mahogany is known as one of the strongest woods on the planet.

Is mahogany A strong wood?

Genuine mahogany decking and flooring is a hard wood and an excellent choice for your project. It has a Janka Score of 800-900 lbf. This makes it a strong wood capable of taking a few accidental drops and hits without consistently denting.

Is mahogany a softwood or hardwood?

hardwoodsTemperate hardwoods include Oak, Beech, Ash, Birch, Maples and Chestnut while famous tropical hardwoods are Mahogany, Teak, Cumaru, Ekki and Ipe. What are softwoods? Softwoods are gymnosperms, which means that their seeds are not encased.

Is mahogany expensive in the Philippines?

“These are the names commonly known by local woodworkers. It is also important to note that tanguile is also known as Philippine Mahogany so better make sure you're getting the right one. Mahogany is the cheapest, while Narra is the most expensive of the three.

What kind of wood is Philippine mahogany?

Philippine mahogany is a common name for several different species of trees and their wood. Botanically, the name refers to Toona calantas in the mahogany family, Meliaceae. It is endemic to the Philippines. In the US timber trade, it is often applied to wood of the genus Shorea in the family Dipterocarpaceae.

What is also known as Philippine mahogany?

BOTANICAL NAME: Shorea spp. ALSO KNOWN AS: Lauan, Meranti, Yellow mahogany, Red mahogany, White mahogany, Red Meranti.

What is Philippine mahogany group?

The five main groupings for Philippine Mahogany (Meranti/Lauan) are: Light Red Meranti, Dark Red Meranti, White Meranti, Yellow Meranti, and Balau.

Why is Philippine mahogany not available?

The actual species (commonly known as Lauan, Shorea polysperma) that made it famous is no longer available due to unsustainable forestry practices. Today, Philippine Mahogany can actually be several species, but “the good stuff” is usually one of a few species from the Shorea genus commonly known as Meranti.

What is Meranti wood?

The Meranti wood that is sold under the Philippine Mahogany trade name today is a species that boat builders have long been using in wooden boat construction. Moreover, it is the species used in some high quality marine grade plywood. In other words, it is an excellent exterior grade product. Generally, when we hear that our boat building customers ...

Is Meranti a class 4 wood?

Meranti is a lower density wood than some of the other more durable species on that chart and it is lower in resin content (stuff bugs hate) than some of the other more durable species so I would imagine those factors are what has classified it as a “class 4” species.

Is Philippine mahogany rot resistant?

The Philippine Mahogany that was made so famous by the classic Chris Craft boats of last century was actually not terribly rot resistant, and the bugs loved the stuff. It was only with substantial top coating and additional work that the material became durable enough for marine applications.

Is Meranti wood the same as mahogany?

Meranti, in a lot of ways, is similar to Genuine Mahogany. The density and grain structure are similar with a nice homogenous feel that allows it to be milled easily and hold details really well. Plus, it is much lighter than the African exterior wood options like Sapele, Utile, and African Mahogany.

Is Meranti a good exterior grade?

All of these fall under what could be called the “Meranti group” of the Shorea genus. Meranti is actually a better exterior grade species than the original “Philippine Mahogany” ever was.

Where is Lauan wood used?

Comments: Sometimes referred to as “Lauan,” wood in the Shorea genus is very commonly used in southeast Asia, and there is an abundance of variety between the difference species: each with different working properties, appearances, and mechanical strength values.

Why are Shorea endangered?

The majority of Shorea species are listed as being critically endangered due to a population reduction of over 80% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.

Does sanding wood have an odor?

Glues, stains, and finishes well. Odor: No characteristic odor.

Does Meranti have a odor?

Odor: No characteristic odor. Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Meranti in the Shorea genus has been reported to cause eye, throat, and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Why is mahogany declining?

There has been a decline in the amount of genuine mahogany in the world over the last century, due to over-harvesting. Many red-colored woods have taken the place of mahogany by default, and the reasons why mahogany became the wood that the world fell in love with, have been lost in the saw-dust.

Where does mahogany come from?

Most current stock comes from Peru or Central America.

Which is better, Sapele or Khaya?

A much larger African tree and more widely distributed than Khaya. It is a good working timber with a finer grain texture than Khaya. Some wood experts believe Sapele will become the African mahogany of choice in the future. Sapele features a little more density than Khaya and therefore better working properties.

What is the best wood for cabinetry?

Genuine Mahogany ranks among the finest cabinetry wood in the world. Its working characteristics are outstanding for all processes, including cutting, shaping, turning, and sanding. The grain is moderately open so filling is required to obtain a glass smooth finish.

Why do mahogany trees have multiple stems?

The problem stems from an insect, the mahogany shoot tip borer, Hypsipyla grandella, Zeller. This insect damages the shoot tips, which cause them to sprout prolifically, which in turn makes for trees with multiple stems, almost from the ground up.

What is the best substitute for African mahogany?

The most acceptable as a substitute is K. invorensis . This species makes up most of the African mahogany on the international market. While this is the most desirable species it maybe sold in a mixture with other Khaya species including K. anthotheca , K. grandifoliola , and K. senegalensis .

What is the most widely used wood?

African Mahogany became the most available and affordable substitute. Today this is the most widely used wood called “mahogany”. It is not related to South American Mahogany but has a similar look and even though it is more brittle it has acceptable working properties. There are several species of Khaya.