Mahogany Question

[dtomasch]

This week, while visiting family up north, I was able to root through my grandfather's shop. He passed about seven years ago. I loaded the new truck to the top with various woods left behind. Most notably, 10 boards 14-18'' wide 4/4 14 ft long rough mahogany. My father puts this lumber at 35+ years old. My question is how do you tell if this is the "real deal" maho, which is very valuable vs. phillipene maho. If I have the real thing then I would greatly consider selling this material in order to stock up on lumber I like more (not the biggest mahogany fan). Any tips for ID would be appreciated.

 

[Kyle]

best thing to do would be to hand plane a section, dab some mineral spirits on it and post a picture of the board..

 

[DaveO]

And compare what you have to the pictures on this site. AFAIK, they are about the best representive samples (with true color) of almost every available wood.

Exotic Wood Pictures: Exotic Wood displayed, described, and identified


HTH, Dave

 

[dtomasch]

Planed and with mineral spirit

 

[dtomasch]

I can't decide between honduran and african. Anybody else? (hoping for honduran, though:lol: )

 

[jerrye]

If pressed I'd have to say Honduran:eusa_clap

 

[grumpy]

Those wide pieces are particularly valuable for folks who make plaques ect. I had some years ago and when I had it planed everyone wanted it. Harry

 

[Travis Porter]

Just my .02, but I am going to say Honduran. The African I have used is normally a very dark brown while the Honduran has been a much lighter brown like your boards.

 

[woodguy1975]

Dave, that is Honduran all the way.

 

[dozer]

Yea what he said :laughing4

 

[PurpleThumb]

David,
If you still decide to sell any, let me know.
Jerry Grant
Purple Thumb
274-7084 x 104

 

[McRabbet]

David,

I agree with John Richards. Here are some pictures of the African Mahogany that I used for the wine cellar project -- most of it is more quarter sawn than the plain sawn boards that are in your pictures, but your grain texture is decidedly different from the African M. that I used.

Rough and planed Planed and joined Sanded Panel First coat of Finish

Rob

 

[cpowell]

David,

Internet prices on Honduras mahogany look pretty strong. Looks like you could sell the HM and get a whole lotta stock in your favorite flavors. :icon_thum

Chuck

 

[cskipper]

Yes, some of us really LOVE those wide boards for trivets and things. If you decide to part with it I'd be interested.

 

[dtomasch]

Honduran it is....
I can't decide if I want to get rid of any of this lumber yet. I will definately keep a few boards, but you all will be the first to know if I decide. Prices look pretty high for this stuff on line. Rockler puts a 9 1/4" x 3/4" at .92/lin inch. Dang, that's expensive. I'll let you all know shortly! Thanks for all of the input.
Dave

 

[mkepke]

Dave - I would not use Rockler as a price reference, as I doubt anyone interested in a quantity of wide and long boards would be..errr..inattentive enough to shop there.

A better local reference would be the Hardwood Store over in Gibsonville:

The Hardwood Store of North Carolina

~$7/bf retail, assuming their "South American Mahogany" is Honduran. You can probably add a premium on top of that for your extra-wide boards - but it is not hard to find wide mahogany. Those trees grow very big.

As opposed to say 18" wide mesquite...

HTH,
-Mark