Genuine Mahogany (Honduran Mahogany)
Swietenia macrophylla • Exotic/Tropical Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight to slightly interlocked grain with a medium texture; displays a faint ribbon stripe figure on quarter-sawn surfaces and fine, open pores.
Color Description
Heartwood ranges from a pale pinkish-brown to a darker reddish-brown. It exhibits a high natural luster and significant chatoyance; colors darken and deepen with age and UV exposure.
Hardness Rating
900 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Durable to Very Durable; excellent resistance to rot and decay, though moderately susceptible to insect attack compared to Teak.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, boat building (trim), musical instruments (guitar backs/sides), turned objects, and fine veneers.
Geographic Origin
Native to Southern Mexico and Central/South America (Neotropics); widely grown in plantations in Southeast Asia.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$15.00 - $28.00 per board foot depending on width, figure, and certification.
Wood Age Estimate
Relatively recent lumber (1-5 years post-processing) based on the crisp edges and lack of deep oxidation or historic tool marks.
Sustainability Status
CITES Appendix II listed; IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable. FSC certification is available for some plantation and managed forest sources.
Workability
Excellent; widely considered one of the best woods for hand and machine tools. Planes, glues, and finishes exceptionally well, though interlocked grain can cause minor tearout.
Notable Features
Features a distinct, pleasant spicy scent when worked. It is exceptionally stable with very low shrinkage rates. Dust can be a mild respiratory irritant.
Finish Recommendations
Responds beautifully to all finishes; traditionally finished with oil or shellac to highlight depth, or polyurethane for durable surfaces. A grain filler is often used for a glass-smooth finish.
Identification Confidence
High; the reddish-brown hue, characteristic open pore structure, and subtle chatoyance are hallmark traits of the Swietenia genus.