Sapele Wood
Sapele wood lumber is used in the construction of fine furniture and cabinetwork, decorative veneers, plywood, joinery, flooring and paneling. Sapele wood (sometimes spelled Sapelle or Sapelli) is quite popular for flooring, and stock with a “ribbon” grain is typically pulled at a premium for decorative finishes. Sapele wood is a medium to dark reddish brown or purplish brown.
You may also be interested in our other Exotic Hardwoods and Millwork.
Stock Information
Species Information
- GRADES: FAS/SEL
- CUTS: Mixed Grain
- SIZES: 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, 8/4, 10/4, 12/4
- DRYING: Kiln-Dried (KD)
- OTHER NAMES: Sapele Mahogany, Sapelle, Sapelli, Sapelii
- ORIGIN: Africa, ranging from the Ivory Coast to the Cameroons and eastward through Zaire to Uganda
- APPEARANCE: Heartwood a medium to fairly dark reddish brown or purplish brown; sapwood whitish or pale yellow, distinct. Texture rather fine; grain interlocked, sometimes wavy, producing a narrow, uniform, roe figure on quartered surfaces; lustrous with a Cedar-like scent
- DENSITY: Janka scale hardness is 1,500 for dry material
- WEIGHT: 42 lbs. / cu. ft., or approximately 3.5 lbs. per board foot
- DRYING: Dries fairly rapidly but with a marked tendency to warp, very variable in drying properties, requires careful stacking
- WORKABILITY: Works fairly well with hand and machine tools, tends to tear interlocked grain in planing, saws easily, good gluing and nailing properties, satisfactory peeling and slicing
- DURABILITY: Heartwood is moderately durable, resistance to termite attack variable. Sapwood liable to powder-post beetle attack
- PRESERVATION: Heartwood resistant; sapwood moderately resistant
- FINISHING: Finishes well
