Sapele Edge Glued Panels & Worktops

This wood is sourced from a tree found in the rain forests of West Africa from the Ivory Coast through Ghana and Nigeria to the Cameroons, and it extends eastwards to Uganda and Tanzania

The distinct, grey-pink, pale yellow or cream sapwood may be up to 10cm wide, while the heartwood is pinkish when freshly cut, darkening to typical mahogany colour of reddish-brown.

Sapele is characterised by a marked and regular stripe, particularly pronounced on quarter-sawn surfaces, and occasionally mottle figure is present. The wood is moderately fine to close textured, and the grain is interlocked.

It is harder and heavier than African mahogany, weighing about 640 kg/m³ when dried, and has a pronounced cedar-like scent when freshly cut.

Sapele is much harder than African or American mahogany, and in resistance to indentation, bending strength, stiffness, and resistance to shock loads, is practically equal with English oak. The wood works fairly well with hand and machine tools, takes screws and nails well, glues satisfactorily, stains readily, and takes an excellent finish.

Finger jointed sapele panels are regularly used as sapele worktops, and in the manufacture of all types of furniture.