SAPELE

THE TREE

SAPELE, THOUGH IT HAS THE NAME OF A NIGERIAN RIVER PORT, OCCURS WIDELY IN TROPICAL AFRICA, FROM SIERRA LEONE TO UGANDA AND ZAIRE. IT IS A WELL-KNOWN AND IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL TIMBER, SHIPPED MAINLY FROM THE WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES BETWEEN THE IVORY COAST AND CAMEROON. IT COMES FROM A VERY LARGE TREE, YIELDING CYLINDRICAL LOGS 1m OR MORE IN DIAMETER.
THE WOOD

SAPELE IS MAHOGANY-LIKE WOOD. NOTED FOR ITS STRIPE FIGURE WHEN QUARTER-CUT OR SLICED, OCCASIONALLY IT HAS A FIDDLE-BACK OR MOTTLE FIGURE. IT IS DARKER IN COLOR, WITH A FINER TEXTURE, AND HEAVIER THAN AFRICAN MAHOGANY.

TECHNICAL PROPERTIES

THE DRYING AND MACHINING PROPERTIES OF SAPELE ARE PARTICULARLY INFLUENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF INTERLOCKED GRAIN, WHICH CAUSES FLAT-SAWN BOARDS TO DISTORT WHEN THEY ARE DRIED, AND MAKES IT NECESSARY TO PLANE QUARTER-SAWN SURFACES WITH CARE IF TEARING IS TO BE AVOIDED. HARDER AND HEAVIER THAN AFRICAN MAHOGANY, IT IS ALSO STRONGER, MORE DIFFICULT TO WORK, AND MORE DURABLE, BUT NOT QUITE SO STABLE IN USE.

USES

COMMONLY USED AS A MAHOGANY, SAPELE COMBINES AN ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE WITH STRENGTH AND DURABILITY. IT IS USED FOR HIGH-CLASS JOINERY BOTH INDOORS AND OUTDOORS, FOR WINDOW FRAMES, STAIRCASES, SHOP FITTINGS AND FLOORING. QUARTER-CUT TO PRODUCE A DECORATIVE VENEER, IT IS USED ON DOORS, ON PIANOS, AND ON THE SURFACES OF FURNITURE WHEN MAHOGANY IS IN FASHION. IT IS ROTARY-PEELED FOR PLYWOOD, WHICH, IF SUITABLY BONDED, IS ACCEPTABLE FOR MARINE USE.

 SOFT WOODS: