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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Swietenia mahagoni Trade Name Cuban mahogany Family Name Meliaceae Common Names Acajou, Acajou de Cuba, Acajou de Saint Domingue, Acajou de St. Domingue, Acajou des Antilles, Aguano, Antillen mahogani, Bay mahogany, Caoba, Caoba de Santo Domingo, Caoba Dominicana, Caobilla, Chiculte, Cobano, Cuban mahogany, Curlet mahogany, Dominican mahogany, Echites mahagoni, Gateado, Jamaica mahogany, Kuba mahogany, Madiera, Mahagoni, Mahog, Mahogany, Mahogany du pays, Mahogany petites feuilles, Mahok, Mahoni, Mongo, Orura, Small-leaf mahogany, West Indian mahogany, West Indies mahogany Regions of Distribution Central America, Latin America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guadelope [France], Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, United States, Venezuela Common Uses Baskets, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Drawing boards, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Food containers, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Office furniture, Pallets, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plain veneer, Plywood, Tables , Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Woodenware Environmental Profile Widespread Source - CITES Some long-term concern for the species Rare in some parts of its range, particularly at the periphery May become threatened Globally secure Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Data source is Nature Conservancy Abundant A government issued export permit is required to verify that the source of the timber is a sustainably managed forest, a plantation, or salvaged wood. The species is also classified as either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its natural habitat in the Dominican Republic ( Distribution Overview The growth range of the species extends from southern Mexico into northern South America, the West Indies, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. The tree is extremely widespread in Florida. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Purple Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Red Pale red to pink Yellowish brown Dark brown Color varies considerably Brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Whitish Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Straight Distinct (figure) Wavy Interlocked Mottled (figure) Even Closed Stripe (figure) Irregular Other (figure) Growth rings (figure) Straight Wavy Mottled figure Interlocked Distinct and very fine figure Striped figure Other figure May be interlocked Irregular Clear growth rings (figure) Highly attractive figures such as fiddleback, blister, stripe or roe, and mottle are produced by irregularities in the grain Texture Fine Fine Medium Medium to coarse Medium coarse and uniform Fine to medium Luster Medium Pronounced High Golden luster Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to pinhole borers Susceptible to marine borer attack Moderately durable Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood resistant to attack by white rot and brown rot fungi Heartwood moderately resistant to dry-wood termites Heartwood is moderately resistant to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6 - D4 (4/4) US T3 - D3 (8/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Checking Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible No twisting or warping No surface checking Slight surface checking Slight distortion Ease of Drying Easy Dries rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Product Sources Cuban mahogany is currently available in adequate quantities at moderate prices, but supplies are expected to decline because of very high demand. For more than two centuries Cuban or Spanish mahogany has been the most favored wood in the world for making cabinets, but its indiscriminate exploitation has severely eroded its commercial importance. The species is hard to buy; export from Cuba has been banned since 1946, and it is scarce and unavailable in commercial quantities from Haiti, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Substitutes Khaya ivorensis , K. anthotheca , K. grandifolia , and K. senegalensis are good substitues. Crabwood (Carapa guianensis) is similar in color and appearance, and also as tough. Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) is superior in strength properties. Silky oak (Grevillea robusta) is also similar. Comments Exposure to sunlight may cause fading General finishing qualities are rated as good Mahogany is regarded as the most valuable timber tree in tropical America. It is believed to have been used by the European colonists as early as the sixteenth century, if not earlier. The name Mahogany is often used to refer to many species, some of which are not even mahoganies, such as the Philippine mahogany. The best of the species, which is very scarce, is reported to grow in the West Indies Tension wood may be present Blunting Effect High to severe Slight Boring May be some chipping & tearing when working figured wood Good results Carving Fairly good response to preservative treatment Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Easy to mortise Material tends to chip and tear Finishes poorly Moulding Easy to mould Poor moulding results Figured material tends to be somewhat difficult to work to a smooth surface. Movement in Service Very stable after kiln drying Stable Has very little response to changes in atmospheric conditions Nailing Holds nails well Good nailing properties Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Figured material may cause grain to chip and tear Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is resistant Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Good response Routing & Recessing Routing is easy Sanding Easy to sand Screwing Good screwing properties Turning Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Steam Bending Good Fairly good response to preservative treatment Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Stains well Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Work to Maximum Load = low Weight = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Crushing strength = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8955 13519 psi Density 41 lbs/ft3 Hardness 990 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4289 7086 psi Shearing Strength 1989 psi Stiffness 1065 1281 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 7 10 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.53 0.57 Weight 40 39 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 629 950 kg/cm2 Density 657 kg/m3 Hardness 449 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 301 498 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 139 kg/cm2 Stiffness 74 90 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.70 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.53 0.57 Weight 641 624 kg/m3