Mahogany (Swietenia  macrophylla) Local Names: Mahoni (Indonesia) Tree description and natural occurrence

A large tropical hardwood attaining 50 m in height and 2 m in diameter.  Bole length is often between 20 to 40 m.
The trees are native to tropical American countries including the West Indies, Central America, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, and Bolivia.  Plantations have been established within its natural range and in Hawaii, Fiji, and the Philippines.
American mahogany was the original and true mahogany exported to Europe at the beginning of the 18^th century.  Since then many timbers have been called ‘mahogany’ due to aesthetic similarities or to increase their marketability.

Wood appearance
Colour. Sapwood is light pink to yellowish-brown and usually distinct from heartwood which varies from medium to deep red-brown.  The timber darkens on exposure.  Some logs produce streaky timber.

Grain. Texture moderately fine; grain straight to wavy or interlocked, often with an attractive figure.

Wood properties
Density. 530 kg/m³ at 12 % moisture content; approximately 1.9 m³ of seasoned sawn timber per tonne.

Strength Group. S5 unseasoned, SD6 seasoned.

Stress Grades. F5, F7, F8, F11 (unseasoned), F7, F8, F11, F14 (seasoned), when visually stress graded in accordance with AS2082-2000, ‘Visually stress-graded hardwood for structural purposes.’

Shrinkage to 12% MC. 2.5 % (tangential); 1.6 % (radial).

Unit Shrinkage. 0.21 % (tangential); 0.18 % (radial). These values apply to timber reconditioned after seasoning.

Durability. Class 3 – Moderately resistant to decay when fully exposed to the weather, clear of the ground and well drained with free air circulation.  Not recommended for in-ground use.

Lyctid Susceptibility. Untreated sapwood susceptible to lyctid borer attack.

Preservation. Difficult to impregnate with preservatives.

Seasoning. Dries fairly rapidly without much checking or distortion.

Hardness. Soft (rated 5 on a 6 class scale) in relation to indentation and ease of working with hand tools.

Machining. Machines well however some material tends to produce a woolly finish.  Sharp cutting edges should be maintained.

Uses

Decorative. High quality and reproduction cabinet work, chairs, panelling, interior joinery, automobile window and door cappings, boat building, deck housing and cabin fittings.

Others. Boat building, planking, pattern making, models.

Texture. Uniform, medium, grain straight.

Wood structure

Vessels. Solitary and radial chains from 2-4.  Just visible to the unaided eye.  Light and dark coloured vessel deposits present.  Vessel lines visible but not over prominent.

Parenchyma. Irregular spaced bands, visible to the unaided eye.

Rays. Fine, storied.  The ripple marks resulting from storied rays can be used to separate this species from red cedar, Toona australis, a similar timber from the same family.

Other features

Burning Splinter Test. A match sized splinter burns to a white ash.

Figure. Dressed surfaces exhibit figure due to the parenchyma bands.

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