I have an opportunity to trade some items for some sapple wood. I actually have the wood in my shop as the owner needs it planed.

I haven't checked online yet, but know you guys are a wealth of information. Is this wood food safe? It is as hard as iron, as I've heard? Where the heck does it come from? Anything about this wood I should know?

Appreciate the information.

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Happiness is wood chips flying!

My quick answer, in our Resources Tab we have a Wood Species information list. Just hover your cursor over Resources and select Wood Species. I hope folks who have actually worked Sapele can chime in here. It is beautiful though.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

John,

Thanks!  I didn't know about our Woodworking Resources.   I will check it out.  I finally wondered over to the Free Plans and Design.  We have some really nice plans posted.  Really love those old plans from the magazine.  

SQ

John Morris said:

My quick answer, in our Resources Tab we have a Wood Species information list. Just hover your cursor over Resources and select Wood Species. I hope folks who have actually worked Sapele can chime in here. It is beautiful though.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

John,

Thanks for the information.  From our Woodworking Resources I have discovered I was spelling it wrong.  Seems it's spelled sapele and is from Africa.  Now that I can spell it correctly should be able to find out if it's food safe.  Thanks a bunch!

SQ

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Happiness is wood chips flying!

SQ,

The dark colored rolling pins I have made are all of Sapele. It is a close cousin to Mahogany. It is not extremely hard but has an iridescence in the grain when a finish is applied.  Because of the "hardness", it is not my favorite for a rolling pin but it looks nice and works well for pastries/dough.

Lew

Lewis,

I knew I had hear the name of that wood before.  I guess it was from your beautiful rolling pin post.  Once I found the correct spelling  of the wood, I was able to find a little more information.  Yes, seems it's harder than red oak and ash.  I'm getting ready to turn an ash bowl right now, but it sounds like sapele will be a bit more challenging. Thinking the sapele might make a nice bowl, though.   Thanks for the information.

SQ

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Happiness is wood chips flying!

Results from

I.D. Wood      

   

 

Sapele

    

Botanical Name

Entandrophragma- cylinricum

Origin

Africa

Description

Medium brown African hardwood with pink to red hues. Has aroma similar to cedar and turns darker in color with age. Even and fine textured. Grows in many African countries south of the Equator.

Common Uses

Furniture, cabinetry, trim, counter tops, boat building, musical instruments, sports equipment, veneers

Wood Working Properties

Hard, strong and dent resistant with moderate dimensional stability. Works moderately well with tools but can have blunting effect. Nails, glues and screws well. Excellent finishing qualities.

Janka Hardness

1510

Sustainability

Secure

Specific Gravity

0.6

Durability

Fair

Also Known As

Gold Coast Cedar, West African Cedar, Aboudikro, Sapele Mahogany, Dilolo, Liboyo, Oweru, Penkwa

Wood Sample(s)

   

  Created in the iPhone/iPad app I.D. Wood.

Get I.D. Wood today.

Sent from my iPad

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

I have an app on my iPad call I.D. Wood. That is the information from the app. Doesn't say anything about food safe but I know it has been use in cutting boards. Nothing I saw that said it would be bad for bowls.

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

Oh you techie gurus! You guys are killing me!

John Moody said:

I have an app on my iPad call I.D. Wood. That is the information from the app. Doesn't say anything about food safe but I know it has been use in cutting boards. Nothing I saw that said it would be bad for bowls.

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

John,

Thanks!  Must be handy having a smart phone. 

SQ

John Moody said:

I have an app on my iPad call I.D. Wood. That is the information from the app. Doesn't say anything about food safe but I know it has been use in cutting boards. Nothing I saw that said it would be bad for bowls.

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John Moody
John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com

LOL, sorry I was just trying to help.

John Morris said:

Oh you techie gurus! You guys are killing me!

John Moody said:

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Not sure Arlin, I don't think it has done much for me. LOL

Arlin Eastman said:

John

Will the Smart phone help me get smarter too.

 

Sue - I have used figured sapele for pens and that is all for turning.  I know it is mostly for flat work, however, I think anything should be turned once it just dulls the tools more.   I have a 3" piece to try it some day