what is the mahogany tree used for

Mahogany Wood Uses

• 1. Flooring Mahogany wood is known for its hardness and long life with beauty. ...
• 2. Plywood Veneers Due to its good grain and density, it is used to make veneer sheets. ...
• 3. Boats It is easy to choose wood for homes and other construction projects. ...
• 4. Jewelry Box Look, Matter, Mahogany wood is used to making jewelry boxes. ...

Full Answer

What is mahogany wood used for?

South American mahogany is used to beautify the interior and give it an elegant look. Some musical instruments like drums, guitars, violins, and grand pianos make use of mahogany because the wood gives a warm sound. It is also used in stereo headphones and phonograph record cartridges.

Can mahogany trees help grass grow?

The dense, strong wood of mahogany trees is beloved for its wood working qualities, but that same wood strength helps this tree resist wind damage — when properly trained. Additionally, the loose canopy of these trees allows enough sunlight to reach the ground for grass to grow.

Is mahogany a shade tree?

Mahogany ( Swietenia mahagoni) casts a light, dappled shade on the ground below, making it a great shade tree for landscapes with enough room for it to thrive. Mahogany trees that are planted along streets or in medians, or even in private landscapes, form a beautiful overhead canopy that can be enjoyed by all.

What is the Native American name for mahogany?

The indigenous Arawak name for the tree is not known. In 1671 the word mahogany appeared in print for the first time, in John Ogilby's America. Among botanists and naturalists, however, the tree was considered a type of cedar, and in 1759 was classified by Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) as Cedrela mahagoni.

What does mahogany tree produce?

These trees can grow up to 150 feet high and 12 feet around. The fruit is a woody capsule with several seeds. Typically mahogany is used for the wood, with its deep red color. Mahogany may also be used for medicinal purposes, although these purposes have not been scientifically proven.

What is special about mahogany wood?

Mahogany is less liable to warping, shrinking, swelling, and twisting than other woods. This is because of its unusual resistance to moisture and atmospheric changes. Mahogany does not move – it holds its shape. Because of the size of the Mahogany tree, it produces incredibly clear large pieces.

What makes mahogany so expensive?

Mahogany is rare (and highly sought after). Genuine mahogany only grows in Central and South America, which makes it very rare. That means that you don't just get beauty or long-lasting quality when you decorate your house with mahogany furniture: you also have wood that's unique and difficult to acquire.

Why is mahogany illegal?

Following the path of ivory, in 2003, mahogany was listed on the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as a species in need of strict regulation to prevent its extinction. Because Peruvian mahogany is traded in violation of CITES, it is illegal to trade or possess it under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Why is mahogany so popular?

Its popularity can be attributed to its strength and the rich reddish brown color. Mahogany wood is used for furniture making. It is also used for building boats and making musical instruments. The attractive appearance of mahogany lends a classic touch to furniture and fittings.

How much are mahogany trees worth?

The price of mahogany depends on species, quality and wood source. The lower end wood from the Philippines for example is priced between $6 and $8 per board foot, while high end Honduras wood prices may range between $10 and $15 per board foot.

Which is the most expensive tree in the world?

African Blackwood-- $10,000 per kilogram. One of the most expensive types of wood in the world comes from the endangered African Blackwood tree. Found only in the driest parts of Africa, this wood is highly valued because it's often made into pricy high-end musical instruments.

What is the rarest wood on earth?

Agar Wood. Agarwood is famous for the tea, oil, and perfume that it produces. It's hefty price tag is thanks to its incredibly high demand and extreme rarity – it's one of the rarest trees in the world.

What are the advantages of mahogany?

Most stable hardwood The wood has a natural affinity for modern finishes, compounding further advantages as the finish seals the wood in order to further unsure its resistance to moisture and temperature changes. Mahogany is less liable to warping, shrinking, swelling, and twisting than other woods.

Is mahogany wood expensive?

Mahogany is so expensive because it has a high demand and is becoming increasingly hard to acquire. The high demand of Mahogany is due to its pleasing appearance, dark fine grain, and long lasting durability. Mahogany has also become more scarce leading to a lack of supply and higher prices.

Is mahogany good quality wood?

Not only is Mahogany still one of the most outstanding kinds of wood for handmade furniture, durability, and ability to be carved with the most intricate details—it is truly one of the most beautiful as well.

Is mahogany wood waterproof?

Mahogany stands up extremely well to water and is even used to make boats. It resists welling, shrinking and warping very well. Due to its ability to withstand wear and water, as well as its rich, natural reddish-brown color, it is an expensive option.

Mahogany Tree Information

If you read information about mahogany trees, you’ll find them both interesting and attractive. The mahogany is a large, semi-evergreen tree with a...

Additional Mahogany Tree Facts

Mahogany tree information includes a description of the blossoms. These heat-loving ornamentals produce small, fragrant clusters of flowers. The bl...

Where Do Mahogany Trees Grow?

Where do mahogany trees grow, gardeners ask. Mahogany trees thrive in very warm climates. They are native to South Florida as well as the Bahamas a...

Why do musical instruments use mahogany wood?

Musical Instruments. Some musical instruments like drums, guitars, violins, and grand pianos make use of mahogany because the wood gives a warm sound. It is also used in stereo headphones and phonograph record cartridges.

How long does mahogany last?

Mahogany items will last a lifetime ; the wood ages gracefully, and its stability is almost always assured. To keep their pristine beauty, however, mahogany pieces must be maintained and looked after with care and consistency. Outdoor mahogany will need more looking after than indoor pieces, but all of it will require regular dusting, waxing, and polishing to stay looking as good as they did the day they came out of the manufacturer’s workshop.

What wood is used for boats?

Yachts and Boats. African wood is used for the exterior of yachts and boats because it has an interlocking grain which makes it resistant to water damage and seepage. South American mahogany is used to beautify the interior and give it an elegant look.

What wood is good for cues?

If you are thinking of getting a custom made cue, both African and South American mahogany is a good wood to use because the closely woven, tight interlocking grain makes a cue that is as straight as a die.

Is mahogany good for outdoor furniture?

Sometimes mahogany is used for outdoor furniture such as tables and chairs, but these have to be kept away from the sun and rain as heat and water can damage the wood and the finish. Teak is more suitable for outdoor use as it is more weather-resistant.

Is mahogany furniture cheap?

Mahogany furniture, both antiques and reproduction pieces, is much sought after as it is the epitome of elegance and grace. It does not come cheap, but furniture which has only an outer covering of mahogany (plywood) does not cost as much.

Is mahogany wood durable?

Mahogany is the most versatile and durable of all the hard woods. It is a dark, red-brown colored tropical wood that is resistant to insects and rot, has an attractive grain, and polishes to a beautiful high sheen. It is not an unduly expensive wood and because of its versatility it can be used anywhere or for anything;

Why is mahogany wood so popular?

There are many reasons for choosing Mahogany. Color is a reason among them. Mahogany is a reddish-brown color. Which makes any application look even better. Over time, the color of Mahogany’s wood becomes even darker.

What color is mahogany?

Mahogany usually come in deep red-brown and reddish-brown color. Mahogany is a strong durable wood uses for cabinet, flooring, and furniture making. Because of its beauty and density, it uses to manufacture veneer sheets which use to make plywood. Swietenia.

What wood is best for a boat?

Over time the wood shrinks and water can damage the boat further. So choose wood for decking or flooring, be able to withstand bending and rot. mahogany wood is a good choice to make boats.

What wood is used to make jewelry boxes?

Look, Matter, Mahogany wood is used to make jewelry boxes. Which gives a great red-brown appearance. Its polished classic look denotes a richness that is hard to ignore.

Why do people use wood flooring?

Due to its appearance, it is the favorite wood for flooring. The biggest reason for using flooring is that it matches with any other furniture in your rooms and gives beautiful patterns. One advantage of using flooring is that it does not change its color easily in sunlight.

How many species of mahogany are there?

Mahogany has 3 species but more than 6 common types of wood are often label as mahogany. According to the FWS only Honduras mahogany (Swietenia Humilis), American mahogany (Swietenia Mahogoni), and bigleaf mahogany (Swietenia Macrophylla) wood to be mahogany species.

Why is wood so heavy?

It becomes very heavy due to being dense. Therefore, working with this wood at the height can be difficult, for this, you should need a partner.

What is mahogany lumber used for?

Mahogany is a commercially important lumber prized for its beauty, durability, and color, and used for paneling and to make furniture, boats, musical instruments and other items. The leading importer of mahogany is the United States, followed by Britain; while the largest exporter today is Peru, which surpassed Brazil after that country banned mahogany exports in 2001. It is estimated that some 80 or 90 percent of Peruvian mahogany exported to the United States is illegally harvested, with the economic cost of illegal logging in Peru placed conservatively at $40–70 million USD annually. It was estimated that in 2000, some 57,000 mahogany trees were harvested to supply the U.S. furniture trade alone.

What is mahogany wood?

Mahogany is a straight- grained, reddish-brown timber of three tropical hardwood species of the genus Swietenia, indigenous to the Americas and part of the pantropical chinaberry family, Meliaceae .

How many tons of mahogany were imported in 1740?

Importations of mahogany into England (and excluding those to Scotland, which were recorded separately) reached 525 tons per annum by 1740, 3,688 tons by 1750, and more than 30,000 tons in 1788, the peak year of the 18th century trade.

How did the French Revolution affect the mahogany trade?

The French Revolution of 1789 and the wars that followed radically changed the mahogany trade, primarily due to the progressive collapse of the French and Spanish colonial empires, which allowed British traders into areas previously closed to them. Saint Domingue became the independent republic of Haiti, and from 1808, Spanish controlled Santo Domingo and Cuba were both open to British vessels for the first time.

Where do macrophylla grow?

mahagoni grows on the West Indian islands as far north as the Bahamas, the Florida Keys and parts of Florida; S. humilis grows in the dry regions of the Pacific coast of Central America from south-western Mexico to Costa Rica; S. macrophylla grows in Central America from Yucatan southwards and into South America, extending as far as Peru, Bolivia and extreme western Brazil. In the 20th century various botanists attempted to further define S. macrophylla in South America as a new species, such as S. candollei Pittier and S. tessmannii Harms., but many authorities consider these spurious. According to Record and Hess, all of the mahogany of continental North and South America can be considered as one botanical species, Swietenia macrophylla King.

What is the name of the tree that is not known?

The indigenous Arawak name for the tree is not known. In 1671 the word mahogany appeared in print for the first time, in John Ogilby 's America. Among botanists and naturalists, however, the tree was considered a type of cedar, and in 1759 was classified by Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) as Cedrela mahagoni.

Why is mahogany not planted in the Philippines?

In the Philippines, environmentalists are calling for an end to the planting of mahogany because of its negative impact on the environment and wildlife, including possibly causing soil acidification and no net benefit to wildlife.

What is mahogany wood?

All rights reserved. Mahogany is a tropical tree, well-known for its aromatic hardwood used in furniture making. Gardeners in much of South Florida—zones 10a to 11—are lucky enough to be able to grow this tree.

Where is mahogany native to?

The species is also native to the Bahamas and the western Caribbean, including Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica. It was introduced to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands more than 250 years ago.

How many leaflets are there in a mahogany tree?

Single leaf with eight leaflets against the bark of a mature mahogany tree. Photo: Stephen H. Brown, UF/IFAS. All rights reserved.

How long are mahogany capsules?

The silvery hard capsules are oval and are 3 to 5 inches long. Mature capsules split open while still on the tree, releasing winged seeds. The dense, strong wood of mahogany trees is beloved for its wood working qualities, but that same wood strength helps this tree resist wind damage — when properly trained.

How tall are mahogany trees in Florida?

One of South Florida’s most popular landscape and street trees, mahogany is fast-growing and large, generally reaching a height between 40 and 60 feet with a canopy that spreads about 50 feet wide. While it has been known to reach 75 feet tall, this is far less common. The crown of these trees is rounded and symmetrical with pinnate leaves that are between 6 and 9 inches long. The actual leaf is made up of 4 or 5 pairs of "leaflets" that the common individual might mistake for a leaf. They're shiny, green, and lance-shaped. New leaves usually appear in April and May after old leaves are quickly shed a week or two before.

Is mahogany a deciduous tree?

Mahogany trees that are planted along streets or in medians, or even in private landscapes, form a beautiful overhead canopy that can be enjoyed by all. It' s briefly deciduous, dropping its leave s in spring.

How tall is mahogany tree?

this mahogany growth is around over 66-65 feet high and reaching around 3-4 feet diameter.

What is the best climate for mahogany?

Mahogany required mostly moist, warm tropical climate. but maximum & minimum shade temperatures of 28- 45. and well in rainfall zone of 1300-2400 mm. soil quality must be check as calcium deficiency in the soil results in slow growth of Mahogany Planting since calcium content of the soil is the important factor.

What is a Swietenia tree?

Swietenia species are mainly defined as “ mahogany ” this Mahogany is a commercially important lumber prized for its durability, beauty, and color, and used for paneling and mahogany tree uses to make furniture, musical instruments, boats, wooden flooring, and other items.

What is the name of the tree that grows straight, grained, reddish brown timber?

Mahogany is the Plant that grows the straight, grained, reddish-brown timber or teakwood. scientifically name is “ Swietenia macrophylla but there are three types of species are- Swietenia macrophylla, Swietenia mahogany , and Swietenia humilis.

Do mahogany trees have farmers?

This association over the period of years has developed in to a long term relationship, wherein they have farmers who continue to be closely associated with them from mahogany trees farming

Is mahogany a hard wood?

From the past continuously increasing demand for hard- wood timber, Mahogany offers a tax-effective investment in forestry which makes mahogany the most demanding timber plant in this tropical region. Mahogany is the best-prized timber tree of India. you can find this will be grown in almost every part of the country except the dry western zone.

Can you do mahogany trees on a plantation?

If you don’t have time to care of the plantation for while – you can do Mahogany Trees – Contract Farming Plantation with Income

What is mahogany used for?

Due to rot resistance capability, mahogany wood is used for creating exterior parts of boats. South American mahogany wood is used to create interior parts of the ship that gives an elegant look to the ship.

What is mahogany furniture?

Furniture that has only the outer covering of mahogany wood is not very expensive and common people can purchase these mahogany wood furniture. Mahogany wood is used for making tables and chairs and you can see some dark-colored mahogany brown shade furniture in high level bars, restaurants, malls and coffee shops, all dark furniture is made of mahogany wood. Mahogany furniture needs to be put away from direct sunlight because it can slowly but steadily fade the mahogany color and shine. One should also avoid mahogany wood outdoor use by placing swietenia mahogany furniture in water logging areas or in the rain water because it can damage mahogany shade wood color.

What is the best wood for guitars?

First of all mahogany is a top level tone wood with light weight and pleasant color therefore this timber is preferred as tone wood for guitar making. Mahogany wood is used for making various musical instruments such as mahogany guitar, veena, tabla etc. Tonewood is used for making musical instruments specially necks and backs of the instruments and use of mahogany wood for acoustic guitar, mahogany wood for guitar neck, electric guitar and mahogany wood for bass guitar are preferred. Mahogany wood guitar sound is much more pleasant than any other tone wood guitar sound.

What wood is used for making pens?

South American mahogany wood is used for making pens. These pens are reddish brown in colour that means natural mahogany colour they are a bit costlier and used for fashion writing as well. one can gift a mahogany pen to any friend or family member due to beautiful features and great quality.

What is the strongest furniture made of wood?

Mahogany wood furniture is probably one of the strongest furniture made of any timber.

How long can a mahogany boat last in water?

Mahogany boats can easily survive more than 100 years in water due to mahogany wood rot resistance capacity.

Which country is the largest exporter of mahogany?

Mahogany export - Today, Peru is the largest exporter of mahogany tree. Whereas, earlier Brazil was the largest exporter of timber mahogany, but Brazil banned mahogany export in 2001. Thus Peru has surpassed Brazil in mahogany timber supply and became number one mahogany exporter in the world.

What was the tone of mahogany in the 70s?

In the '70s and '80s, mahogany was thought to produce a subpar tone when compared to that of rosewood—an assumption that would eventually change, thanks in no small part to The Tree.

When did the tree start being used in guitars?

It wasn't until the late '80s and early '90s when The Tree would see its first serious use in guitars, thanks to pioneering luthiers like Tom Ribbecke and Richard Hoover (owner of Santa Cruz guitars). These luthiers, and others, were crucial to popularizing The Tree within the guitar building community.

What makes The Tree so rare?

The Tree's figure (commonly called quilted, blistered, or tortoise shell) is thought to be caused by a genetic defect. In truth, the reason for its dramatic appearance remains largely a mystery.

How was the wood transported from the jungle to the Chiquibul River?

The wood was then transported a perilous 100 miles through the heart of the jungle to the Chiquibul river.

How long did it take to dry a milled log?

The milling operation required nearly two weeks of work, yielding an astonishing 12,000 board feet of timber. The wood was then shipped to the United States and kiln dried for 30 days.

What is the tone of the tree?

The tone of The Tree is unlike any other wood available. The Tree's density, response, and headroom rival that of the best Brazilian rosewood, and it has an open, ringing quality at first strum.

What was the transition from a tree to the tree?

The Tree's transition from a tree to The Tree was just beginning to take shape.

1- Cuban Mahogany

Historically this is what people talked about when they discussed Mahogany.

2- Honduran Mahogany

Honduran Mohagany is what’s left of genuine Mohagany, now that Cuban Mahogany is not available.

3- African Mahogany

African Mahogany refers to a number of different trees, all from Africa. It’s the most widely available substitute for genuine Mahogany.

4- Mountain Mahogany

Mountain Mahogany is a highly dense wood that is not often available for commercial sale, at least in bulk.

6- Swamp Mahogany

Swamp Mahogany is a tree from Australia though it’s now being grown worldwide, especially in warmer climates.

Summary

Overview

The natural distribution of these species within the Americas is geographically distinct. S. mahagoni grows on the West Indian islands as far north as the Bahamas, the Florida Keys and parts of Florida; S. humilis grows in the dry regions of the Pacific coast of Central America from south-western Mexico to Costa Rica; S. macrophylla grows in Central America from Yucatan southwards and into South America, extending as far as Peru, Bolivia and extreme western Brazi…

Description

History of American mahogany trade

Uses

Mahogany as an invasive species