Uses
Sapele or sapelli is the common name for the Entandrophragma cylindricum, which grows natively in Africa. It is widely used in lumber form, as well as wood material for high-end musical instruments, which makes the Sapele a commercially valuable export. It is sometimes substituted for Genuine Mahogany. The heartwood is colored golden to dark reddish brown. Furthermore, it's durable and provides a natural luster.
Uses
Common uses are as veneer and plywood. It's also a furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and boat-building species. Further uses include: Musical instruments, turned objects, and even Cadillac interior trim.
Availability
The price is moderate for regular plainsawn or quartersawn lumber. Figured lumber and veneer can be highly expensive, particularly pommele or quilted Sapele.
Sapele is known to be moderately difficult to work with in some machining operations, particularly planning and routing processes. Due to its interlocked grain, machining could result in tearout. It is also advisable to avoid direct contact with iron, as this stains and discolors the wood. It's stable, and therefore turns, glues, and finishes well.
From: The Wood Database
3824 Fremont Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64129
816‒506‒4131
Monday to Friday: 8:00 – 3:00
Charles: 816 - 506 - 4131
Specialty Lumber Solutions represents the nation’s largest wholesalers of tropical hardwood products and domestic lumber mills. If you are looking for Ipe, Teak, Cumaru, Massaranduba or another species, we sell tropical hardwood rain screen siding and decking materials at the best prices.
For high end domestic species, we offer clear grade Western Red Cedar and Select Southern Cypress custom milled to your specifications. We also have your flooring needs covered by working with direct importers to offer a line of tropical hardwood flooring at the most competitive prices.