Sapele

Color: The pale white to light brown color of both the sapwood and heartwood, these sections are not clearly defined. Growth rings tend to be subtle, and the color is mostly uniform throughout the face grain of the wood. Knots and other defects are uncommon.

Color and Appearance:  The heartwood of this wood is a golden to dark reddish-brown. Color tends to darken with age thanks to the prolonged exposure in the daylight. One factor to take notice concerning this wood is that besides the common ribbon pattern seen on quartersawn boards, Sapele is additionally better-known for a large variety of different patterned grain patterns, like pommele, quilted, mottled, wavy, beeswing, and fiddleback. Once flat sawn it is each a suitable and sustainable alternative for Mahogany. 

Grain and Texture: The grain is interlocked, and typically wavy. This might cause a small amount of hassle while working with this wood because of the interlocked grain pattern. The wood conjointly features a fine uniform texture and smart natural luster which supplies it a more polished finish. Diffuse-porous; giant pores in no specific arrangement, few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; chromatic deposits sometimes present; parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates, unilateral, and marginal; rays slim to medium, spacing normal; ripple marks gift. 

Workability: Sapele is difficult to figure in some machining operations, (i.e., planing, routing, etc.), leading to tearout due to its interlocked grain. This wood isn't suited to figure with machines or tools that are made of iron because the wood can tend to react when put into direct contact with iron, turning into discolored and stained. Sapele has a slight blunting result on tools and cutters so sharp tools ought to be made use of. This wood turns, glues, and finishes to an attractive and sleek polished finish.

Odor: Sapele features a distinct, cedar-like scent while being worked. 

Availability: This wood is moderately priced for normal plainsawn or quartersawn lumber, although patterned lumber and veneer are extraordinarily costly, notably pommele or thick Sapele.

This wood species is not listed within the CITES Appendices however is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction over the past 100 years primarily due to the steep decline in its natural range due to overexploitation. 

Common Uses: The most common uses of this wood are veneer, plywood, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, boatbuilding, musical instruments, turned objects, and different small wooden specialty things. Sapele is used within the construction of a fine piece of furniture and cabinetwork, ornamental veneers, plywood, joinery, flooring, and pane. Sapele (sometimes spelled Sapelle or Sapelli) is sort of well-liked for flooring, and stock with a “ribbon” grain is often pulled at a premium for ornamental finishes. Sapele Wood may be utilized in interior and exterior usage and is a cheap different to Spanish cedar tree or Western Red Cedar.