All About Mahogany Wood

The classic furniture look made out of mahogany wood makes mahogany as one of the most highly requested materials besides teak. Read more to understand more about the mahogany tree, its characteristics, and its uses.

Mahogany wood buffet | Source: Google

The Mahogany tree has 3 main species :

1. Honduran (Swietenia macrophylla) or large leafy mahogany. This type is most sought after and found. Can be used for furniture and panels.
2. West Indian (Swietenia mahagoni) became the most widely used for furniture before Honduran mahogany became famous.
3. Swietenia humilis is a type that is rarely known from the three species of mahogany that exist. The wood is small and bent, making it less attractive to use as material for furniture.

Now the question is what makes mahogany so popular?

Straight pores and fine fibers. Initially, the reddish-brown color of mahogany tends to be dark. But when it is made into furniture and finished, the color will be a distinctive shiny red. Mahogany is one of those furniture materials that is undeniably classic. This durable hardwood has long been used to make some of the finest furniture in the world, which means that it is also among some of the more expensive furniture to buy. It has excellent workability and is very durable. Historically, the tree’s girth allowed for wide boards from traditional mahogany species. These properties make it a favorable wood for crafting cabinets and furniture. Mahogany also resists wood rot, making it attractive in boat construction and outdoor decking. Today, it is the African mahogany that is most often sold and used, but older furniture pieces often feature genuine South American mahogany.

Furniture set from mahogany wood | Source: Google

ADVANTAGES OF MAHOGANY

• Most stable hardwood
  Mahogany is harder than other woods like oak, pine, etc. In fact, it is 70% more stable and harder than other varieties of woods. Its properties of hardness and durability having no grooves or pockets make it water-resistant and scratch-free too.
• Extremely Durable
  Mahogany wood planks are usually cut from quartered logs, so there are fewer chances of these planks to be bent due to heat and other diverse conditions.The wood has a natural affinity for modern finishes, compounding further advantages as the finish seals the wood in order to further ensure its resistance to moisture and temperature changes. Mahogany is less liable to warping, shrinking, swelling, and twisting than other woods. This is because of its unusual resistance to moisture and atmospheric changes. Mahogany does not move – it holds its shape. 
• Extremely Resistant
  Mahogany is particularly resistant to rot, mold, and other organisms of decay, both with respect to the atmosphere and with the soil. In addition, mahogany is highly resistant to the attack of dry wood termites. While untreated Mahogany sapwood is susceptible to wood-boring insects like termites, the Mahogany Green World Lumber imports from Fiji is pre-treated to resist them.
• Has Many uses besides decking
  Mahogany is easy to work with and can be used for many purposes besides decking. The biggest advantage of mahogany hardwood floors is their appearance. It matches any type of furniture or any décor of the room. It’s textured and beautiful patterns for furniture and makes it the most appropriate choice for many hardwood flooring experts. It does not fade easily as it absorbs sunlight. As it is dark-colored, mahogany appears dust free and looks nice and clean at all times.

DISADVANTAGES OF MAHOGANY

• Relative Expensive
  Each year the output of mahogany wood furniture is limited, high quality is rarer. So mahogany wood serves as the good wood for making furniture, the price is costly relatively. The price of mahogany wood is relatively high because the production rate of the mahogany tree is quite low as per its demand. Therefore, consumers must see clearly before choosing, lest individual businesses fool consumers by using defective goods.
• Color Difference
  Mahogany wood comes in pink color resulting in a large color difference. If mahogany furniture is used in a large space, it will highlight the black sand and make the furniture’s texture unclear.
• Tropical wood, therefore bad environmental balance.
  Mahogany is difficult to cut, gives different shapes, and has a strenuous installation process as it is very hard as compared to other wood. It is recommended to leave to the experts when installing mahogany flooring because the workability is the biggest issue with these wood materials. The expert will do the cutting, shaping, and look into the whole installation process to avoid damaging the material.

Now you know more details about Mahogany which you can shop for mahogany furniture at kaliudagallery.com. Customize your furniture with the materials that you want and choose colors that suit you. We’ll be back with more details about other wood types. Find out more about teak wood, ironwood, longan wood, rain tree wood, acacia wood, coconut wood, and jackfruit wood.