Description

Sapele

Sapele

Sapele heartwood is a golden to dark reddish brown color which  tends to darken with age. Besides the common ribbon pattern seen on quarter sawn boards, Sapele is also known for a wide variety of  other figured grain patterns, such as pommele, quilted, mottled, wavy, beeswing, and fiddleback. The grain is interlocked, and sometimes wavy, with fine. uniform texture and good natural luster.

Janka Hardness:

1,410 lbf 

Average Dried Weight:

42 lbs/ft3 (670 kg/m3)

Workability:

Sapele can be troublesome to work in some machining  operations, resulting in tearout due to its interlocked grain. It will also react when put into direct contact with iron, becoming discolored and stained. Sapele has a slight blunting effect on cutters, but it turns, glues, and finishes well.