Shropshire Building Supplies keeps both Dark Red Meranti, Sapele hardwoods and timber in stock at Leebotwood branch, but all branches have access to a range of different hardwoods, both FSC and PEFC certificated. There are certain peoperty details on both of these hardwoods below, but the best way to order or enquire is to give us a “cutting list” (list of the sizes you need) and we will find the most efficient sizes in stock to source the list from and select it for you. Contact us for details and prices.
Sapele
Sapele 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. It is used for numerous mahogany-looking products, for example conservatories, door frames and solid wood doors, furniture and counter tops.
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It is available from stock kiln dried in thicknesses 1″, 2″ & 3″. Widths 4″ – 12″, mainly 6″ – 8″. Lengths 7′ – 18′ ,average about 12′.
Working Properties
- Works fairly well with hand and machine tools
- Tends to tear interlocked grain in planing
- Saws easily
- Finishes well
- Good gluing and nailing properties
- Satisfactory peeling and slicing
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
Durability
- Heartwood is moderately durable
- Resistance to termite attack is variable
- Sapwood liable to powder-post beetle attack
- Heartwood resistant, sapwood moderately resistant
Main Uses
- Furniture and cabinetwork
- Decorative veneers
- Plywood
- Joinery
- Flooring
- Panelling