Thistle
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know where I might get strips of mahogany or similar, size roughly 5 * 15 * 1500 mm?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Mahogany strips
- Thread starter Thistle
- Start date
richievtu
Well-Known Member
must it be mahogany, not sapele?
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
Buy a 1500mm long, 15mm thick board, set the fence on a table saw at about 5.5 mm. Rip off n lengths and then run them through a thicknesser, although it'll have to be a small one, otherwise you'll have to surface finish them by hand.
Find a carpenter/joiner/cabinetmaker if you don't have the tools.
Find a carpenter/joiner/cabinetmaker if you don't have the tools.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
Real mahogany - as in true mahogany is very difficult to get hold of. You will find most timber merchants will try and sell you a mahogany substitute such as sapele.
A few specialist yards have mahogany - but you need to be sure that its what you really need. Its sourcing isn't very green.... I know of a couple of places in Devon that have a small stock which is years old, but they are very reluctant to sell it unless its for a very good reason, ie repairing a mahogany boat. - You can guess how I found out this bit of trivia, if you realise I once owned a classic boat built of elm, oak and mahogany!
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Poignard
Well-Known Member
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doug748
Well-Known Member
As the others have said, you could struggle.
A broken or wormy Victorian wardrobe or chest might be your best bet. At auction or perhaps in someone's barn or hen shed.
A broken or wormy Victorian wardrobe or chest might be your best bet. At auction or perhaps in someone's barn or hen shed.
DownWest
Well-Known Member
Robbins list two types of Mahogony www.robbins.co.uk
Tranona
Well-Known Member
If it is just decorative, then have a look at "strip wood" mouldings in B&Q. It is probably luan which is not ideal for structural use, but looks good as varnished trim.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
If you read carefully, you will see that neither of the timbers they list is real mahogany!
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
I concur with Doug - an auction house and a monstrous piece of Victorian brown furniture, table, chest, wardrobe, hall stand, etc. Or, if you get very lucky, a bar top from a closed pub.
Neil
Well-Known Member
When the pharmacology department moved to a new building at Leeds University, the old lab benches were 're-claimed' by a member of staff who was restoring an old vicarage; they were made from single planks of real mahogany - at least 30'' wide by about 3" thick, and running the length of the lab.....
A thin skim to get the acid burns and stains off, and hey presto...sliced trees
Those were the days (and why you can't get the like anymore)
A thin skim to get the acid burns and stains off, and hey presto...sliced trees
Those were the days (and why you can't get the like anymore)
Thistle
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the replies. My request for info about "mahogany or similar" certainly includes sapele and that looks as though it may be the way to go. Measurement rather than guestimate suggests size should be 8 * 25 * 1220 mm (1/4 * 2 * 48 inch).
Further suggestions welcomed!
Further suggestions welcomed!
prv
Well-Known Member
If substitutes are OK, then any timber yard that does hardwoods - you don't say where you are, so it's hard to be specific. I have on my desk right now a lovely sample piece of Sapele from Bamptons in Southampton (walking distance from my boat, but unfortunately only open when I have to be at work!). Since I had the day off on Friday I went to chat about what they have; I'll mostly be doing my own cutting but it is something they can do for you. I'm sure they would cut your strips, if this is your part of the world.
Pete
coliholic
Well-Known Member
Top right on his posts, he says he's Firth of Forth so not quite round the corner from you in Soton.
And Bamptons have got a very basic website; http://www.bamptons.co.uk/bamptonhome.html
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
If you were in Devon, you could call round and I could give you the bits as I have a fair bit of spare Sapele from the cottage restoration I am doing. (I am repairing the windows etc and using Sapele as a reasonably durable hardwood; Iroko for external the window cills; Oak for the internal window cills.
A few moments with the table saw and the planer-thicknesser and robert would be your mothers brother, but any timber merchant nearby should be able to help. Otherwise try a local joiner?
A few moments with the table saw and the planer-thicknesser and robert would be your mothers brother, but any timber merchant nearby should be able to help. Otherwise try a local joiner?
Gordonmc
Well-Known Member
How many strips do you need?
I have a mahogany board (dark red, weathers to honey) I have been saving for some time for the right job. I will measure up and post detail later.
To rip it into 5 mm strips, however, would mean a lot of waste.
I am in Ayr.
I have a mahogany board (dark red, weathers to honey) I have been saving for some time for the right job. I will measure up and post detail later.
To rip it into 5 mm strips, however, would mean a lot of waste.
I am in Ayr.
jreynolds
New Member
I sustainably grow Mahogany (Melicaccae Swietenia) if that is of interest to you. Perhaps my supply is far greater than your need. We are beginning our first harvest and this treasured wood is looking for the right market where the quality can be appreciated.