I am starting the process of making up a prototype of Adirondack style chairs out of Poplar before making the real thing out of Mahogany. I do not want to use Cedar as I do not like its appearance and knots and trying to get decent cedar in my So. Calif. area is nearly impossible. So I was talking about this with the person at my local hardwood dealer who has been in the industry for a lot of years. I was getting prices for the different types of Mahogany that they carried in 5/4 and 4/4 and they have 3 species. African, Philippine and Genuine (Honduras) Mahogany. Prices for the Honduras is $8.15bf for 5/4 while the African and Philippine are both about $4.25bf for 5/4. When asked about what I was using it for it was recommended that the Philippine would be best as it holds up better outdoors in the weather and dealing with UV while the African and Honduras would do better for interior projects. So since I have not used Mahogany much and not at all for exterior projects, can anyone give me some advice here on this?

 

My plan is to use a Rosewood Oil finish which works well for exterior projects as I want to maintain the color as opposed to having it fade to a lighter color.

 

Thanks.

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Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

http://www.awcreationsandwoodcrafts.com

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk' J. Vernon McGee

I believe that real mahogany and not the other woods called by that name are preferred by boat builders and  are better for out of doors applications.

I made my mailbox out of Honduran mahogany almost three years ago and it is in fine shape.

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Adam Welker
Red Car Construction and Fine Woodworking

Hello Allen,

For the use of mahogany for such projects I use the African Mahogany because it holds up well with or without a finish on it other than stain and a good outdoor varnish that will withstand the UV rays. Please don't use polyurethane for it will not withstand the UV rays and will blister and peal off.

Respectfully,

Ralph

What you are looking it is the best of the Mahogany.  Yes it cost the most.  The good part it works great.  Sawing is no problem planing and sanding is easy.  I built a boat using Genuine (Honduras) Mahogany, had it twenty years and only had to refinish once.  I enjoyed working with this material.  It does have a open grain, but that is easy to fill.  I would use a water prouf glue  and stainless steel screws.

Good luck

Mahogany is a topic of much puzzlement and  debate.

Here is an interesting article the veracity of which I am unable to speak to but it may be worth reading. It is fair to point out the bibliographical references  and to remark that they are not insubstantial. So the article bears at least that, to speak for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahogany

Apparently the two most  desirable species of Mahogany are now cultivated in the pacific rim.