Sapele from West Africa is a reddish-brown hardwood. Although some parts of the Sapele logs will produce straight-grain or ‘quartered’ effect, generally it has a more random grain appearance. It is used for numerous mahogany-looking products, for example conservatories, door frames and solid wood doors, furniture and counter tops.
It is available kiln dried in thicknesses 26mm, 32mm, 38mm, 50mm, 63mm, 76mm and 100mm. Random widths range from 100mm to about 400mm and lengths 2m to about 5m.
It is essential to specify the narrowest and shortest dimensions to optimise the lower priced sizes.
| Works fairly well with hand and machine tools | |
| Tends to tear interlocked grain in planing | |
| Saws easily | |
| Finishes well | |
| Good gluing and nailing properties | |
| Satisfactory peeling and slicing |
| Moderate hardness and weight | |
| Medium bending and crushing strengths, not recommended for steam bending | |
| Seasons fairly rapidly but with a marked tendency to warp | |
| Very variable in drying properties, requires careful stacking | |
| Movement in service is rated as medium |
| Heartwood is moderately durable | |
| Resistance to termite attack is variable | |
| Sapwood liable to powder-post beetle attack | |
| Heartwood resistant, sapwood moderately resistant |
| Furniture and cabinetwork | |
| Decorative veneers | |
| Plywood | |
| Joinery | |
| Flooring | |
| Panelling |
