Maple (Soft/Silver) with African Mahogany center strip
Acer saccharinum (Maple) and Khaya spp. (Mahogany) • Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Maple: Straight, fine, and uniform with some diffuse-porous vessels. Mahogany: Straight to interlocked grain with ribbon-stripe tendency and medium-coarse texture.
Color Description
Maple: Pale creamy-white to light yellow sapwood; luster is subtle but visible. Mahogany: Deep reddish-brown center heartwood that darkens with UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
Maple: 700 lbf (Soft); Mahogany: 830-1070 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Maple: Perishable/Non-durable, susceptible to insect attack. Mahogany: Moderately durable to durable with good rot resistance.
Common Uses
Musical instruments, decorative boxes, cutting boards, furniture accents, furniture framing, and turning.
Geographic Origin
Maple: Eastern North America; Mahogany: West Tropical Africa.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$5.00 - $12.00 per board foot depending on local availability and figure quality.
Wood Age Estimate
The finished item appears to be 10-30 years old based on the ambering of the top coat and the oxidation of the Mahogany strip.
Sustainability Status
Maple: Least Concern/Stable. Khaya Mahogany: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List) and subject to FSC monitoring.
Workability
Maple works easily with tools but can burn with dull blades. Mahogany may show tearout on interlocked grain but glues and finish exceptionally well.
Notable Features
High contrast between light and dark species; Maple is odorless, while Khaya may have a faint scent when worked.
Finish Recommendations
High-gloss polyurethane or lacquer (as seen on specimen) to protect the light wood from staining and enhance chatoyance.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of diffuse-porous white hardwood adjacent to a porous reddish-brown tropical wood is a classic pairing in hobbyist woodworking.