West African Sapele

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Wood2Size aims to deliver to mainland UK on the next working day
(if ordered before midday on the previous working day).

• Monday 2nd January 2023 – New Year’s Day (substitute day)

• Friday 7th April 2023 – Good Friday

• Monday 10th April 2023 – Easter Monday

• Monday 1st May 2023 – Early May Bank Holiday

• Monday 8th May 2023 – King Charles III’s Coronation

• Monday 29th May 2023 – Spring Bank Holiday

• Monday 28th August 2023 – Summer Bank Holiday

• Monday 25th December 2023 – Christmas Day

• Tuesday 26th December 2023 – Boxing Day

• Wednesday 27th December 2023 – Christmas Shutdown

• Thursday 28th December 2023 – Christmas Shutdown

• Friday 29th December 2023 – Christmas Shutdown

• Monday 1st January 2024 – New Year’s Day

• Friday 29th March 2024 – Good Friday

• Monday 1st April 2024 – Easter Monday

• Monday 6th May 2024 – Early May Bank Holiday

• Monday 27th May 2024 – Spring Bank Holiday

• Monday 26th August 2024 – Summer Bank Holiday

• Monday 23rd December 2024 – Christmas Shutdown

• Tuesday 24th December 2024 – Christmas Shutdown

• Wednesday 25th December 2024 – Christmas Day

• Thursday 26th December 2024 – Boxing Day

• Friday 27th December 2024 – Christmas Shutdown

• Monday 30th December 2024 – Christmas Shutdown

• Tuesday 31st December 2024 – Christmas Shutdown

• Wednesday 1st January 2025 – New Year’s Day

Cut to Size / Planed West African Sapele Timber

The sapwood is pale yellow or whitish, the heartwood 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.

Occasionally mottle figure is present, it is fairly close textured, and the grain is interlocked. It is harder and heavier than African mahogany, weighing about 640 kg/m³ when dried. It has a pronounced cedar-like scent when freshly cut.

Many Tropical timbers including West African Sapele may affected by the tiny Ambrosia beetle when the logs are fresh-felled and lying on Forest floor in humid climates, as soon as the log is resawn and kiln dried, the Ambrosia dies i.e. it is not continuous damaging woodworm. This is not considered a defect especially as these timbers are frequently given a paint finish and either a coloured or dark stain typically hides any pin marks.

Ordering West African Sapele Timber

People ordering sapele timber from Wood2Size will find that this is a reasonably hard and heavy wood which is easy to work, tending to saw easily, finish well, and peel and slice effectively for veneers. This is also a great wood for gluing and nailing, although it may tear during planing

The tree

A very large tree with cylindrical bole and small or not buttresses. Grows to a height of 45m or more, and a diameter at breast height of 10m or slightly more. The Timber The sapwood is pale yellow or whitish, the heartwood 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. Occasionally mottle figures is present, it is fairly close textured, and the grain is interlocked. It is harder and heavier than African mahogany, weighing about 640 kg/m3 when dried. It has pronounced cedar-like scent when freshly cut.

The timber

Predominantly from West Africa, is a reddish-brown hardwood. Although some parts of the Sapele logs will produce straight-grain or ‘quartered’ effect, generally it has a more random grain appearance, thus meaning it is liable to interlocked grain. Interlocked grain spirals around the centre of the tree thus alternating intermittently and causing a ‘rough’ effect, this can generally be reduced if not eliminated by heavy sanding. Sapele is used for numerous mahogany like products, for example conservatories, door frames and solid wood doors, furniture and countertops. It is available kiln dried in thicknesses 26mm, 38mm, 50mm, 63mm, 76mm and 100mm. Random widths range from 100mm to about 400mm and lengths 2m to about 5m. It is essential to specify the narrowest and shortest dimensions to optimise the lowest priced sizes.

Strength and Durability

Strength – 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.

Durability – Moderately durable. Heartwood is moderately durable. Resistance to termite attack is variable. Sapwood liable to powder-post beetle attack. Heartwood resistant, sapwood moderately resistant.

Physical properties

Moderate hardness and weight. Medium bending and crushing strengths, not recommended for steam bending. Seasons fairly rapidly but with a marked tendency to warp. Very variable in drying properties, requires careful stacking. Movement in service is rated as medium.