Sapele, Sipo, Khaya vs Genuine Mahogany

macchips4

Well-known member
Looking to build a block front chest with carved shells so I Visited the hardwood dealer today and the choices were very limited on Genuine mahogany.
They had plenty of Sapele and Sipo. the yardman suggested to use Sipo because it is closer in grain/color to Gen. Mahogany......Another yard had some Khaya...So I thought I would ask the group for their experiences...........has anyone used Sipo? If so are you happy with the results?
How does it work/carve? would it be a good substitute for Genuine Mahogany?
The supplier might be getting Gen. Mahogany in about 3-4 months....
 
Mac, I'd go with the real stuff although if I'm honest I can't tell the difference many times. I know that Khaya can be tough due to it's switchback and interlocking grain, although it looks great with filled finish. Where are you located? Might give Irion a call I'm sure Myron could take care of you.
 
Mac, I'd go with the real stuff although if I'm honest I can't tell the difference many times. I know that Khaya can be tough due to it's switchback and interlocking grain, although it looks great with filled finish. Where are you located? Might give Irion a call I'm sure Myron could take care of you.
Thanks for the reply, The dealer usually has plenty of Gen. Mahogany on hand just caught him at a low point...Honestly it will be a while to" clean off the bench" and start on the block front. I'm in NY and have made the trip to Irion...what a candy store!....What started the wheels turning about the Sipo is it's less than half the price at about 7.50BF. and looks alot like GM...I might just get a piece and try carving the shells and see how it goes ......The nice thing is the dealer had quite a few 22-24" wide 12ft long 5/4 boards....at close to that price!.......:cool:....Joe
 
Mac, I over bought Gen. Mahogany over 20 years ago and have more than I'll ever use near DC. I also have excess 8/4 GM stored in East TN.

I made a couple of blockfront desk and bookcases years ago. I couldn't believe the final weight of the desk. You might want to estimate the weight as you make your decision.
 
Looking to build a block front chest with carved shells so I Visited the hardwood dealer today and the choices were very limited on Genuine mahogany.
They had plenty of Sapele and Sipo. the yardman suggested to use Sipo because it is closer in grain/color to Gen. Mahogany......Another yard had some Khaya...So I thought I would ask the group for their experiences...........has anyone used Sipo? If so are you happy with the results?
How does it work/carve? would it be a good substitute for Genuine Mahogany?
The supplier might be getting Gen. Mahogany in about 3-4 months....
It sounds like you are planning to build a block front chest and are looking for the right type of wood to use. Sipo, Sapele and Khaya are all woods that are sometimes used as substitutes for Genuine Mahogany, as they have similar characteristics in terms of grain and color. However, it's important to note that each wood has its own unique properties and can behave differently when working with them.

Sipo is a good substitute for genuine mahogany because it is a hardwood and has a similar color and grain pattern. It is also relatively stable and easy to work with. Sapele is also a good substitute, it is a hardwood and is known for its stability and workability.

Khaya is another option that has been used as a substitute for genuine mahogany, it is a hardwood and has a similar color and grain pattern, it is also relatively stable and easy to work with.

Ultimately, the choice of wood will depend on your personal preferences and the specific project you are working on. It might be a good idea to get a small piece of each wood and try carving it to see which one works best for you. If you can wait for 3-4 months, it might be worth waiting for the genuine mahogany.
 
You can also find S. mahagoni from yard trees in FL. It is usually air dried. I prefer the color and density to S. macrophylla (which is apparently all plantation grown in the far east now). The S. macrophylla (purchased in the early 80's so maybe central american or Mexican) however has a very nice ray fleck when carving the shells which the S. mahagoni seems to lack.
 
Back
Top