$483 Worth of Mahogany

Article - May 10, 2011

Much like a teenage girl at the Mall, I did some damage today! Ever wonder what $483 worth of Genuine Honduras Mahogany looks like? It looks a lot like that pile of boards you see in the back of my truck! This is the material I plan to use for the upcoming Adirondack Chair Guild Build. Since the chair is heavily Greene & Greene influenced, I decided to go with Genuine Honduras Mahogany. This mahogany has decent rot resistance and will do fairly well outdoors.

Mahogany can be very expensive but it might not be as bad as you think. I purchased enough for two chairs (maybe) but on some thicknesses I have WAY more than I need. That wasn’t my original intention, but sometimes the boards come long and I really don’t mind having stock left over. Does anyone?! So let’s break down my sweet stash and the prices.

8/4 – 16 Board Feet @ $8.65/BF = 138.40
6/4 – 15 Board Feet @ $9.00/BF = 135.00
4/4 – 26 Board Feet @ $8.08/BF = 210.08
———————-
Total = $483.48

Our cut list estimates for this project call for 1.3 BF of 8/4, 5.1 BF of 6/4, and 13.6 BF of 4/4. So I should have enough for two chairs, although I might need to resaw some of that 8/4 stock to get some extra 4/4 to work with.

I also wanted to point out the two lighter boards in the stash. They are lighter simply because they were recently surfaced to some extent. But what caught my eye was the beautiful milky swirls in the grain. Also notice how the cathedral grain pattern is a little more pronounced due to the lighter veins of white outlining them. I honestly don’t know how these boards will age, but I thought they would be great candidates for creating some nice focal points on the back slats. Hopefully I won’t regret that decision. But hey, you have to take a chance sometimes and when I see something interesting at the lumber yard, I snag it! With some finish and natural aging, it may not make one bit of difference but it was certainly worth a shot. Next stop: millin’ time!

Discussion

Pinto May 10, 2011 7:48 am

LOL. As soon as I read the title, the first thing that came to mind was a Barry & Levon skit from the MTV series “The State”… $240 worth of pudding

http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc.....id=1539536

Thanks, Marc, for the info and the smile.

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- HMG May 10, 2011 1:21 pm
  
  I thought of the exact same thing. Funny stuff.
  
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Randy May 10, 2011 8:25 am

Nice load. Not any where around here to get mahogany so I went with white oak. I already had plenty of 4/4 but my 8/4 is being delivered this morning. Getting ready to go!

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Lori May 10, 2011 8:29 am

Awesome load of lumber there Marc!!! It will be interesting to see what happens to the lighter wood… But you may find after milling they look the same!!! After looking at the list of rot resistant woods I was surprised to find that black walnut was a rot resistant wood. I was pondering doing reverse coloring of walnut body and whitish G&G pegs. I think I’ll keep pondering that!!! :-). Hope you enjoy milling your stack of HM today!!!

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Tony Vienneau May 10, 2011 8:40 am

Spent that on way dumber things!

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Barb Siddiqui May 10, 2011 8:48 am

That’s some of the prettiest mahogany I’ve seen in a long time. Your lighter boards will just glow with some oil put on them. Looks well worth the money to me! Almost too good for Adirondacks!

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Rob Lopez May 10, 2011 1:11 pm

Having some connections really bring down the prices. I cannot get near the price you got, what lumber store did you get that from?

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- thewoodwhisperer May 10, 2011 3:14 pm
  
  Spellman Hardwoods in Phoenix.
  
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  - Denny May 11, 2011 11:54 am
    
    Hi Marc, I will be in the Phoenix area soon and want to check out Spellman Hardwoods. Do they let you pick the boards you want from the stack or do they select the boards for you?
    
    Reply
    - thewoodwhisperer May 11, 2011 12:08 pm
      
      As long as you don’t take too long, you can actually pick through the pile.
- Scott May 10, 2011 4:32 pm
  
  Hey Rob, Is that a Vikings hat you are wearing? If you live here in Minnesota check out Siwek Lumber in Jordan! This is the hidden gem that very few know about. I used to work there. They may not have exactly what you want but they have millions of board feet! If you call, ask for Dave!
  
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  - mark williams May 10, 2011 8:44 pm
    
    Siwek also has a location in North East Minneapolis. I got some great cedar there last year at an awesome price. Not sure if I have enough for the guild build, and in fact my shop is in shambles as I just moved from the twin cities to FL!
    
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  - Rob Lopez May 10, 2011 8:45 pm
    
    It’s a Steelers hat.
    
    And I live in Tucson, AZ…imagine that!
    
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Jim Rimmer May 10, 2011 1:40 pm

I recently purchased Honduras mahogany for a couple of end tables I am going to build. Total for my load was $613.79. I,too, think I have more than I need but that’s OK. I had to pay more per bdft than you; here it was $9.95.

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Howard Ferstler May 10, 2011 5:48 pm

I lack the enthusiasm of the other commentators. The satisfaction of building something beautiful notwithstanding, that is a lot of money to spend for a couple of chairs that will be sitting outside and possibly losing their good looks as they age.

For inside furniture, well, OK, because inside the stuff is protected. But outdoors? Me? I’d stick with pressure-treated pine for out in the weather Adirondacks and bank the savings, or if I had to own the wood I would build something for the indoors where it would remain beautiful forever.

Actually, I am retired and if I spent that kind of money on wood my wife would make me build something to sell at a profit. She would then use the money to buy food.

Howard Ferstler

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Dana May 10, 2011 7:36 pm

Just a quick tip from someone who has a non-full-size truck (2010 Tacoma): Put the tailgate down, a 2×4 across the bed just before the tailgate under the wood and a tie-down around the whole mess and your load will be better supported.

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epm May 10, 2011 9:40 pm

It blows my mind how much the price of mahogany has gone up. I was in the furniture business in 80’s and was buying tractor trailer loads of mahogany for $15,000 -$20,000 all FAS 4/4 – 16/4. I know I was buying wholesale, but it is startling how much the price has gone up.The most I remember paying was $3.00 a foot for some 16/4 when supplies were tight. I have only recently gotten back into woodworking and it has been a shock.

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SteveR May 11, 2011 8:31 am

I think locally grown cypress would have been a more responsible and cheaper choice. I think the Honduran black market would suffer but perhaps your neighbors would be better off.

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- thewoodwhisperer May 11, 2011 9:21 am
  
  mmmkay…..
  
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- Todd May 11, 2011 8:56 pm
  
  Steve is getting at something important. There are several valid reasons to choose another species:
  1) Steve’s point about local wood has to do partly with energy. Domestic wood takes a lot less energy to ship, unless you are in Quintana Roo.
  2) There is not as much mahogany as there used to be, as reflected in epm’s comment about rising cost. Sapelle, a relative of mahogany that used to be passed over in the forests, is now being harvested and sometimes substituted for mahogany.
  3) Mahogany is a rainforest hardwood, and when we buy it, we are contributing to deforestation. Not much for one chair, but some. We recycle aluminum cans nowadays because we have learned that every little bit counts. I know most dealers say their wood is FSC certified or even plantation grown, but the source chain for hardwood has so many links in it that frankly I don’t believe it isn’t riddled with unscrupulous entrepreneurs trying to make a quick buck.
  4) Black walnut is gorgeous. Much prettier than mahogany.
  
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  - thewoodwhisperer May 11, 2011 9:15 pm
    
    I definitely will not be getting into any sort of environmental responsibility debates today. I put that up there with religion and politics on my list of least favorite things to discuss publically. But let me just say this: black walnut is prettier than Honduran Mahogany?!?! What you smokin’?!?! Certainly not the black walnut I have access to.
    
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    - Todd May 11, 2011 9:56 pm
      
      I prefer black walnut because it is more colorful than mahogany, which tends to be more homogeneous in color and figure. Most commercially available walnut is treated (steamed if I’m not mistaken) so the colors even out. I try to get walnut from small lumber mills that cut and dry their own, such as those on eBay, since they usually skip this step.
    - epm May 11, 2011 9:56 pm
      
      Sorry to have poked a sharp stick into the church of environmentalism. I may need to go back to lurking. I always thought we improved upon the tree and allowed someone to have something of beauty in their home. I always thought the saying about a tree falling in the forest also applied to sight. Anyway I don’t think cypress ever crossed my mind as a substitute. I know for a fact that carving roses in walnut is tough not to mention spending all your time resharpening tools.
epm May 11, 2011 9:27 am

This was 30 years ago and we were making reproductions.

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Humberto May 11, 2011 10:01 am

Uhhmm…
I live in southeastern Mexico, pretty much closer to Honduras than you. However, here in Quintana Roo state, I can see Mahogany grow up almost anywhere (what a beautiful tree!!)
With those 483 bucks here you can get two full trucks of 1st class lumber (maybe more).
I agree, natural aging gives mahogany a wonderful look. The other day I miss a recently milled mahogany board under direct sun light with a rag on it … After couple of days I found a nice tan with the silhouette of the rag.

(sorry, I’m still learning english, need more practice jeje)

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Joe Lyddon May 11, 2011 12:13 pm

I always thought White Oak was the favorite for G & G work…

Sure can add-up can’t it?

Going to be a couple of Choice chairs!

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- thewoodwhisperer May 11, 2011 12:40 pm
  
  You might be thinking of Mission Style/Stickley work Joe. The Greenes worked primarily with mahogany.
  
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  - Stew May 14, 2011 9:59 am
    
    The Greenes did indeed use mostly mahogany. You can find an extended discussion of G&G wood choices in Robert Lang’s Shop Drawings for Greene & Greene Furniture. According to Bob, the majority of G&G pieces “are made of mahogany, with a few notable exceptions.” He says that early G&G pieces in the Tichenor house were made of ash, the Gamble house master and guest bedroom furniture is made of walnut and maple, and some small pieces were made of teak.
    
    Note that mahogany was used for furniture but that most of the architectural woodwork in G&G houses is Douglas Fir or Port Orford Cedar. I think you can use whatever wood looks good to you.
    
    I make most of my G&G stuff out of cherry or walnut because quality material is widely available and (relatively) inexpensive in my area.
    
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Andreas May 11, 2011 12:52 pm

Wow, I’m glad I went with cedar. I also bought enough for two chairs and mine only cost me $150. That’s a bargain!

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Devin M May 11, 2011 7:37 pm

What Mahogany is actualy true Greene and Greene. On one of my most recent Greene and Greene projects I used African Mahogany. Is Honduran what the Greenes used the most or is that just what you can get?

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- thewoodwhisperer May 11, 2011 9:20 pm
  
  I’m pretty sure they did use Honduran. Maybe someone with a little more historical knowledge can correct me on that if not. These days, however, I see most G&G stuff being made with African.
  
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  - Jerry May 13, 2011 12:46 pm
    
    Someone told me one time that at the turn of century, most of our Mahogany came from Cuba “Cuban Mahogany”. And I though that was what the Hall Bros used for G&G furniture. Probably a nit as I’m sure Honduran and Cuban are probably pretty close if not the same — I’m not a botanist.
    
    Honduran is real hard to find here is San Diego. I substitute African Mahogany (loosely related to the Latin American variety).
    
    I’m decided on whether to build along with guild but was thinking of white oak as a nice outdoor species.
    
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VitalBodies May 11, 2011 9:25 pm

This might be covered elsewhere, but if you are not a member but considering becoming one, knowing what tools and lumber (lumber choices, amounts etc) would be a handy (and for some essential) to know. Is that written somewhere on the free site? Someone new, will have to factor in the cost of the course, lumber and tools.

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- thewoodwhisperer May 11, 2011 9:38 pm
  
  Well this article actually lays out the lumber requirements: 1.3 BF of 8/4, 5.1 BF of 6/4, and 13.6 BF of 4/4. Species is completely flexible. Any outdoor-friendly species will do. The Bell Forest Kits will be available for those that don’t have milling equipment. I believe they are making the kits from Fiji Mahogany. I haven’t really posted the tool list on the free site yet. I always try to show folks several ways to get things done in the build but the tools I will use primarily are: tablesaw, bandsaw, router, flush trim bit, dado blade, rasp, and a square punch for the ebony plugs.
  
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  - VitalBodies May 11, 2011 11:09 pm
    
    I saw the list for board feet and was trying to ask for more than just me, so the info might be placed in the critical place for new sign ups (like when you click that chair banner on the home page or the “learn more” on The Guild page – I offer this as feedback. Plus at times there are options, that you explain so well like on lumber thickness or types. I personally am short a dado blade, router (unless a Bosch trim router will do) and square punch. Any advice on a square punch or are they pretty generic? I will also check the reviews section for these tools.
    Any acquisition of nice, new or different wood is always fun, congrats.
    
    Reply
    - thewoodwhisperer May 12, 2011 7:40 am
      
      Yeah we’re getting there. This is the first time I was able to even have a banner made for the build. For now, I am so focused on just getting the build going that I don’t have time to coordinate something like that. Anyone have a cloning machine handy? As for a square punch, technically, you can just use a chisel. But that’s a lot of small mortises to square up. So a hollow chisel mortising chisel is a good substitute. But if you don’t have a mortiser, that won’t help very much.
      
      And you can probably get by without a large router as long as you are able to flush trim 3/4″ stock.
      
      The lack of a dado blade is going to be tricky. Not because it can’t be done, but because I might not go into sufficient details on the alternatives. And I plan on using the dado a lot on this build.
Buzz May 12, 2011 6:34 am

Having never bought lumber like this before, I am confused about the 1.3 board feet of 8/4 for the legs. The cut sheet says that the front legs which will use the 8/4 are 19 1/2 inches long. Obviously, I could just buy 2 board feet or so to cover it, but I would like to understand how the 1.3 board feet would allow me to cut pieces that are 19″ long. I know I am over analyzing this, but I’m curious.

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- thewoodwhisperer May 12, 2011 7:31 am
  
  Remember that “board feet” is simply a unit of volume, not length. So let’s do the math:
  19 1/2 L x 2″ Thick x 1 3/4″ Wide = 68.25 / 144 = .474 BF
  We have two legs so that’s 2 x .474 = .95 BF
  We always add a certain percentage for waste so the figure we put into the cut list is 1.3 BF, which should be more than enough to get the job done.
  
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Steve F May 13, 2011 8:43 am

Marc your note brings up a question in my mind. If I spend $450 for the wood to build two chairs, include finishing and tool overhead. What do I charge my friends for these when finished. I am not doing this for a living but my time is worth something. How about a little insight in how you do your estimates?

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- thewoodwhisperer May 13, 2011 8:48 am
  
  http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/faq/
  
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Steve F May 13, 2011 9:03 am

Thanks for responding so quickly. Sorry that my question was so pedestiran. Any chance that you will be on PBS or another network with your own show anytime soon.

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- thewoodwhisperer May 13, 2011 9:32 am
  
  haha no worries Steve. I get that question a lot so it was a perfect thing for the FAQ. When it comes to TV, I never say never. But as it stands now, I get to make my own shows for an international audience, I am my own boss, and I get 100% of any profits my business makes (well, minus what we donate to Livestrong of course). So the need/desire to push for a television show just isn’t there for us. Furthermore, if I want to spend 12 episodes on one project or a full hour talking about chisels, I can do that. On TV, things get much more restrictive.
  
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Greg May 13, 2011 10:40 am

Nice looking batch of wood. It’s pretty exciting to buy wood – it means you’re about to start something new.

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TimV May 13, 2011 10:40 am

I feel for you Marc. The mahogany is sweet. I just picked up a large load of mahogany hardwood and 9 sheets of mahogany ply too for a large built in. When you want that look, nothing comes close.

Tim

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Rob May 13, 2011 10:44 am

I think I’ll use cedar, If I can find the thick stuff – or I could laminate it – right?

Im not in the guild yet, so I can ‘t get to the details – waiting on the book with the coupon!

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- thewoodwhisperer May 13, 2011 10:49 am
  
  Hey Rob. The only issue I see with laminating is the fact that these chairs will live outdoors. And outside, you have a much better chance of de-lamination. So the fewer laminations the better.
  
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  - Rob May 13, 2011 5:35 pm
    
    I forgot all about “delamination”…good point! I was able to get a nice 10′ x 11” wide 8/4 piece of cypress today. Also got about 30BF of 4/4 cypress, so I’ll just resaw the 8/4 for the needed stock. I think I have enough for 2 chairs.
    
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Bas May 13, 2011 10:44 am

Wow, mahogany Adirondack chairs. Sitting on one of those, sipping a cold drink, that’s luxury! Yes, there are cheaper alternatives, but who cares. Most of us spend thousands of dollars so we can build a $50 cutting board.

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Jim_WoodWarden May 13, 2011 11:31 am

Ok Marc you need to drive by Houston so I can get one of those “it fell off the truck” deals!!!! I’m envious definitely envious.

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Tom Collins May 13, 2011 1:37 pm

As do many, I get frustrated with friends and family that think I can build that piece of furniture they want for less than Ikea. But I have to admit that I still struggle with the cost of materials every time I do a project. I keep telling myself it will be a family heirloom that will last for hundreds of years. And also don?t screw up because it will cost you a fortune to buy another piece of wood.
Are you really going to leave those chairs outside?

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- thewoodwhisperer May 13, 2011 2:31 pm
  
  Hey Tom. Yes absolutely. My chairs will live on my covered patio. They’ll be out of the rain and won’t get much direct sun either. But they will endure the super hot summer temps.
  
  And frankly, I relish opportunities like this. I really haven’t been woodworking all that long, when compared to some of our veterans here. And I haven’t made a lot of outdoor furniture either. I am pretty well read on the topic but nothing can substitute for actually doing it, and observing your own pieces age over time. So watching these chairs age will be part of my learning experience, even if it means bad things for the chair. But hopefully they’ll endure.
  
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Matt R. May 13, 2011 3:02 pm

I think im going to build my chair out tooth picks and pop sickle sticks

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- thewoodwhisperer May 13, 2011 3:04 pm
  
  And I fully support your right to do that. :)
  
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Parker B May 13, 2011 3:10 pm

My only question, Marc, is why did you stop at only $483.00? This stuff is georgeous!

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chuck May 13, 2011 4:45 pm

I would love to be able to spend 500.00 on wood. If i ever did, i would be dreaming. Dont wake me!!!!!!

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John Daugherty May 13, 2011 5:20 pm

I got a deal on some Honduras Mahogany a couple of years ago. 15 inches wide 16 footers full 1 1/8 thick completely clear boards 5.00 dollars bd/ft. I still kick myself for not getting more than I got!

I can’t wait to see the chairs!

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Rob May 13, 2011 7:35 pm

Around here (central Canada) we call them Muskoka Chairs and use eastern white cedar to build them. Left untreated the cedar goes a lovely grey colour. I’ve built almost a dozen of them for the cottage to sit on the dock staring out at the lake. Gotta love Canada in the summertime!!
Another benefit of eastern white cedar is that you can get it for about .20 cents a board foot or less around here!!

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kyle keck May 13, 2011 7:51 pm

I Love shopping for wood and tools>>>

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TennesseeYankee May 13, 2011 8:32 pm

Beautiful wood. It would be hard for me to spend that kind of money on something I would put outside. But it will be awesome.

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Buzz May 14, 2011 9:26 am

WooHoo! Got my wood today, and a bit extra for later projects… Sapele Mahogany 12 BF of 8/4 (they didn’t have any 6/4, so I’ll cut it down) and 15 1/2 BF of 4/4. All for $177 – not bad!

Now the dilemma… I want to start asap, but I guess I need to let the wood acclimate to my shop. I don’t have a moisture meter. How long do I need to sit on my hands?
Thanks!

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- thewoodwhisperer May 14, 2011 9:44 am
  
  If you bought your wood locally and its kiln dried, I think you are in good shape to start working. Just make sure you mill it equally on both sides. That will help keep the board balanced as the internal fibers lose some of the excess moisture. Glenn Huey did a video on this a while back and Bois confirmed it in his shop. So I say, go for it.
  
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Jeff May 14, 2011 10:11 am

Marc,

I agree with what others are saying. It looks like you picked up some great wood! The best deal I’ve found on African Mahogany was a sale price my local Woodcraft ran about a month ago. They were selling 4/4 African Mahogany for $5.99 per board foot. They normally sell it for around $12 per board foot. Needless to say, I grabbed as much as I could. It might be a long time before I come across a deal this good again.

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MikeM May 15, 2011 10:45 am

My wife is wanting me to make this project, and wen I gave her the cost of the lumber, she went into sticker shock! Not sure what I will end up making it out of, but she really likes the design. Will see what works out.

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bburen May 15, 2011 5:19 pm

Thats a lot of beautiful wood Marc and I agree Mahogany over Walnut but both are great woods to work with

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wil May 15, 2011 7:48 pm

Thats some nice lumber. Im sure the Adirondack Chair will turn out well!

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Lone_Wolf May 15, 2011 9:11 pm

Such a beautiful sight… Just a good investment in my book….

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John Hixon May 16, 2011 8:28 am

If I came home with that load of wood, the only thing I would get to build is my own coffin.

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Keith May 16, 2011 6:56 pm

Glad to see some others went the white oak route. A little easier on the wallet, though plenty tough on the back (that’s some dense wood!). I’ll be very interested in ideas for coloring–hoping to try the dye. That said, the Mrs. has recently become a huge fan of just shellac or poly and let the wood be what it is (she’s a great gal!)

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Omar Lazo May 16, 2011 8:27 pm

Anyone work with Philippine Mahogany? A hard word dealer out hear in So Cal has some for cheap… around $4.50/board foot I think.

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DALE May 17, 2011 7:35 am

Have you talked to Bell Forest Products about adding one of their packages to your 3 month guild membership for the May giveaway ?
it would make a great gift for the Adirondack build.
If not this build how about the next one :)

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Ross May 18, 2011 6:15 am

I can’t imagine spending that much money in one shot for wood. Of course, I have built a total of four projects at this point so I think my knowledge-base is a bit on the minimum side. Truth be told, I look forward to the day I can go to the lumber mill and confidently (with a tinge of nervous) drop 500 clams on wood for a project. That will be a big day for me.

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Erik May 19, 2011 12:29 am

I’m $530 worth of mahogany into two of these chairs and tonight decided that I’m not happy with the how the boards work with each other so it’s back to the lumber yard. At least I get some nice ribbon stripe to add to my collection out of the deal.

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Jack Rasmussen May 19, 2011 5:36 am

That is quite the load of wood and will make some fantastic chairs.

I didn’t even spend that much in one fell swoop when buying enough solid stock red oak and veneer plywood to build the cabinets for my kitchen.

Hope the project turns out well and there is fun had by all building it!

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Buzz May 22, 2011 5:16 pm

I was doing some dimensioning of the lumber to get ready, and it occurred to me, this is going to be one heavy beast of a chair! It is going to stay exactly where you put it. If you can put it there in the first place! ;-)
Can’t wait to start!

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Marlene June 4, 2011 12:28 pm

Don’t know where any of you live, but if you live in the Phoenix, AZ area, especially near Mesa, there is a fantastic source of hardwoods at a place called Timber Hardwoods on Southern Avenue in Mesa. Yesterday I purchased African mahogany in 8/4 for $4.99 a BF. The other dimensions are also available…4/4 and 6/4….all for $4.99 a BF. They also offer onsite planing and sanding. I had them straight-edge one side and plane down to 1.5″. We plan to build an outdoor dining table. I found this site in my search for some finishing tips for mahogany that will be outdoors in the AZ weather. It will be situated under a patio cover with direct sun only in the late afternoon hours. It should not receive much direct rain. I am concerned about water rings from glasses and stains from spilled food. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. We just plan to build the table top and attach it to a metal table leg frame.

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- thewoodwhisperer June 4, 2011 2:49 pm
  
  most likely, I’ll be using a film finish on my chairs. Specifically Epifanes marine varnish. So that’s certainly one decent option for you.
  
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Stan Clark June 21, 2013 3:06 am

Hi.would it be possible to give sizes in metric as well as imperial as I live in Australia 2 hrs south of Brisbane. We only use metric here .
We can only buy timber in multiples of .300
Its impossible to get timber any other way !!
Stan

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Jessie February 19, 2014 1:16 pm

Marc,
If you are ever in need of some more substantial Mahogany, my dad has built up one of the only remaining collections. I’m talking in the range of 100″x42″x2.

Back in the day when veneer was made without the vacuum saw, there was a couple of inches left over that couldn’t be made into veneer. We make some pretty epic tables from the crotches, but have some to share!

See if you are interested- we ship all over the US! flamemahogany.com

Jessie

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Brad kane October 21, 2014 3:25 pm

Hi, my wife is from honduras. Her father has 47 doors made of Honduran mahogany. He was going to build an apartment, but never got around to it. They have been sitting inside his house for about 30 years. We are trying to get an idea what they are worth and if anyone would be interested in buying them. We do have pictures. They are in San pedro sula right now, but they can be brought over to the port in Fort Lauderdale. Please email me.
Thank you

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Kerry January 9, 2015 1:23 pm

I feel pretty lucky i get mahogany boards from work for free.

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Kevin May 23, 2015 5:44 pm

I have 8 African chief tribal chairs very beautiful pieces. African mahogany. Email me for pics. Wanting to sale these. There very heavy each piece is about 3 inches thick bottoms and back. And about 20 lbs each PC. Ty look forward to comments god bless

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5z9t October 27, 2015 9:29 am

Great post.

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Rick Barrett March 31, 2017 12:39 pm

I have 4 boards for sale and they are 16″ to 18″ unplaned.

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Monty Lines April 13, 2019 8:55 pm

The original definition of the grain pattern you describe as “‘cathedral” is Bias cut. A very simplistic term describing this pattern for the last 120 years. There are unknowns hiding in this pattern that includes many domestic woods. You can get changing color and brightness auras on osage orange, locust, kentucky coffee bean, hard maple and of course walnut especially in bias cut figured wood. This occurs on finished wood when you walk around a piece or when you turn or twist a board. Keeping terms as they are secures that we understand each other without expecting one another to confirm a new word when a word has been in existence for quite sometime. Less confusion is respectful.

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- Marc Spagnuolo April 14, 2019 9:59 am
  
  Thanks for your input. However, when I google “cathedral grain pattern” I get hundreds of relevant wood-related results. When I google “bias cut” “bias pattern” or “bias grain pattern”, every result I see refers to textiles. So while I appreciate what you’re attempting to convey here, in reality, you’re being hypocritical. The term our consumer-facing industry uses is “cathedral” and that’s obviously the less-confusing term in 2019.
  
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$483 Worth of Mahogany

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