What is African Mahogany?
African Mahogany can be Any of several woods of the genus Khaya, most commonly Khaya ivorensis. Its distribution is Tropical West, Central, and East Africa. Khaya has become known as “mahogany” because it exhibits similar properties and overall appearance to American Mahogany (Cuban and Honduran.) African Mahogany has a Janka hardness rating of 1,070.
Working with African Mahogany
The heartwood of African Mahogany varies from pale pink to dark reddish brown. The grain is interlocked and the texture is medium to coarse. Machining properties can vary, it glues and takes fasteners moderately well and finishes well. It is moderately decay resistant, which is below the rating of the American Mahoganies (Cuban and Honduran).
African Mahogany is used for furniture and cabinetmaking,veneers, interior joinery, and boatbuilding.
Sources: US Department of Agriculture, US Forestry Service. www.fpl.fs.fed.us
Lincoln, William A. World Woods in Color, Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, CA, 1999.
Meier, E. (2016) Wood! Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide. Eric Meier: USA