Which Wood – Mahogany and Sapele

Which Wood Series – Started with Walnut – and lets continue with Mahogany. Including Sapele also, since they are related – but know, they are not the same.mahogany-maple-karly-cutting-board-1

  • Honduran Mahogany – Swietenia macrophylla
    • AKA – Also Known As
      •  Honduras, Geniune, Brazilian, Big-Leaf, and American. Did I miss any?
    • Native to Southern Mexico – Central South America
    • Grain Varies – Straight to Wavy – Stunning Character
    • Color – Pinkish Brown to Reddish Brown Color with Natural Luster
      • See the “luster” in the mahogany pieces above? I call this character “flame”
    • Chosen for furniture, including turned pieces, cabinetry of all kinds (of course), guitars and building boats (who knew)?

We had quite a stash of Mahogany from years gone by – and decided that the contrast for our cutting board designs would be well received, and we were right.  Not a subtle as cherry and not as bold as walnut.

Mahogany - Maple Small Wooden Cutting Board

Mahogany – Maple Small Wooden Cutting Board

  • Sapele – Entandrophragma cylindricum
    • Found in Africa
    • Beautiful Grain Variation – Interlocking to Wavy.
    • Color from Golden to Reddish Brown with Natural Luster.
    • Similar uses as American Mahogany – sometimes offered as a substitute – though I’m not sure why.
Mahogany or Sapele?

Mahogany or Sapele?

Mahogany or Sapele with Maple?

Mahogany or Sapele with Maple?

Mahogany or Sapele with Maple?

Mahogany or Sapele with Maple?

If it’s mahogany, the straighter grain will give it away for me. But if it’s wavy and has flame in it, I can’t tell the difference.

The woodworker, however, will be able to tell the difference.  How you ask?

Sapele is more difficult to work with due to the interlocking grain, your machinery will tell you. And smell it, sapele has an odor – smells like cedar. American Mahogany doesn’t have an odor.

Square is the New Small

Over this past year, the feedback we’ve received has been very helpful – thank you to everyone to has helped Creative Woodworking grow and learn. The handmade cutting boards – cheese boards, the designs, the wood species, the sizes and the shapes.

Mahogany - Maple Small Wooden Cutting Board

Mahogany – Maple Small Wooden Cutting Board

One thing we realized is that our small board, 7″ x 10″ x 1″ is a bit small. The new small will be square – 10 1/4″ x 10 1/4″ x 1″ – initial thoughts and comments have been favorable.

mahogany-maple-square-cutting-board (2)

Mahogany – Maple Small Square Wooden Cutting Board

Rustic Cherry Wooden Cutting Board 7" x 10" x 1"

Rustic Cherry Wooden Cutting Board 7″ x 10″ x 1″

Above is the orginial small size and below is the “new small” – try not to be distracted by the wood tone – isn’t crazy how much prettier cherry becomes as it ages? Same knife, what do you think?

Rustic Cherry Wooden Cutting Board 10 1/4" x 10 1/4" x 1"

Rustic Cherry Wooden Cutting Board 10 1/4″ x 10 1/4″ x 1″

Do you think we’ve made the right decision?

Mahogany - Maple Small Cutting Board

Mahogany – Maple Small Cutting Board

Small Cutting Board in Hickory

Thank you Atlantic Plywood!!

Guess who we purchase lumber from?

Sandy

Where’s Sandy?

creative-woodworking-temp-showroom

Sandy in Cherry – Maple with Putney Wine, What could go wrong?

maple-walnut-cutting-board-sandy

Sandy in Walnut – Maple Skinny

This design, I (Sandy), can’t really take credit for as we had a similar Kitchen-aid….It’s an almost copy!

kitchenaid-cutting-board
See what I mean?

mahogany-maple-walnut-skinny-cheese-boards

Sandy in Sapele – Maple Equal and Maple – Walnut Skinny

cutting-board-maple-mahogany-sandy

Sandy in Mahogany – Maple

Bamboo-Sandy

How cool is bamboo?

the-sandy-cutting-board-walnut-radius

Sandy in Walnut

Bamboo is pretty cool, but Walnut is cooler – according to Sandy.