Genuine Mahogany (Honduran Mahogany)
Swietenia macrophylla • Exotic/Tropical Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Straight to slightly interlocked grain with a medium texture and consistent ribbon-like patterns commonly found in quarter-sawn sections.
Color Description
Reddish-brown heartwood with a distinct golden luster. It exhibits strong chatoyance and tends to darken significantly over time with exposure to light, turning a deep, rich reddish-brown.
Hardness Rating
900 lbf (Medium)
Durability Rating
Very Durable. Highly resistant to rot and termites, with excellent stability and weather resistance.
Common Uses
High-end furniture, cabinetry, boat building, musical instruments (especially guitar backs and necks), turned objects, and veneer.
Geographic Origin
Southern Mexico to central Brazil; widely grown on plantations throughout the tropics.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$15.00 - $25.00 per board foot depending on figure and width.
Wood Age Estimate
Modern sample (less than 10 years). The light color and lack of deep oxidation or tool marks suggest recently milled or kiln-dried stock.
Sustainability Status
CITES Appendix II listed; IUCN Red List Vulnerable. FSC certification is available for sustainably managed plantation stock.
Workability
Excellent workability with both hand and machine tools. It planes, glues, and finishes exceptionally well, though interlocked grain can occasionally cause minor tearout.
Notable Features
Faint, pleasant scent when being worked. Known for world-class dimensional stability and easy staining. It is the gold standard by which other mahoganies are measured.
Finish Recommendations
Responds beautifully to oil-based finishes, lacquer, and shellac. A grain filler is often recommended to achieve a perfectly smooth, glass-like surface.
Identification Confidence
High. The coloring, pore structure (visible as small dark lines), and characteristic chatoyant luster are definitive hallmarks of the Swietenia genus.