Mohogany available ?

[Tom R]

Need advise,
I have the opportunity to purchase 3 large planks of Mahogany - Not sure of the species.
The 3 planks have been kept in a warehouse for a number of years, rough sizes are:

15 ft long, 1-3/4" thick, 11-3/8" wide

18 ft long, 1-3/4" thick, wide, 13-3/4" thick

13 ft long, 1" thick, 11"wide

The price offered and excepted, I believe is excellent, I want to purchase the planks but I am just a hobbiest,
and not sure what to do with the material.

My question is: Should I make the purchase and try and sell them to fund other projects? If yes, can any one give a wild a** best guess to cost per board foot >

If not, what should I make with them ?

Any advise is welcome,

Tom R

 

[peter halle]

Tom,

I will only give my experiences - I will not give advice.

I have bought a ton of wood products over the years with the thought of selling part to fund other stuff.  I still have it all.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it all when I bought it and I still don't.  I enjoy looking at what I bought until I think about how much I spent.

Peter

 

[live4ever]

How clear are the boards?  How are they sawn/what does the grain look like?  Personally I am a bit of a wood hoarder - if I find exceptional wood or a great deal I buy it without necessarily knowing what I will do with it.  That being said, that does mean I have a lot of boards that have been sitting unused, waiting for that perfect project.

 

[peter halle]

How clear are the boards?  How are they sawn/what does the grain look like?  Personally I am a bit of a wood hoarder - if I find exceptional wood or a great deal I buy it without necessarily knowing what I will do with it.  That being said, that does mean I have a lot of boards that have been sitting unused, waiting for that perfect project.

Do you like veneer?  Boy I might have something for you!  [big grin]

Peter

 

[semenza]

Hard to say Tom.

Retail price on that in my area (if its mostly clear) would be $8 - $10 brd/ft, especially on the 8/4.   So $700 ish. But the price is sure to vary a lot all over the country. Unless you have plans I would hold off unless it is a real good deal.  I assume you have compared to a regular selling price in your area? If you buy it and will be keeping it , make sure you have a good storage spot that will not be in the way. You never know how long it will be sitting.  If you plan to resell , buy at a very good price because unless you have a good outlet, you may have to resell at a considerable discount just to move it along yourself.  Check Craigslist in your area to see what  wood is selling for.

Then of course there are all those other questions... has it been planed so that you can see the grain,  deep long checks or splits, especially nice grain, warped, twisted, etc ?

Do you have any pictures if it?

Seth

 

[semenza]

How clear are the boards?  How are they sawn/what does the grain look like?  Personally I am a bit of a wood hoarder - if I find exceptional wood or a great deal I buy it without necessarily knowing what I will do with it.  That being said, that does mean I have a lot of boards that have been sitting unused, waiting for that perfect project.

Do you like veneer?  Boy I might have something for you!   [big grin]

Peter

Peter, you could wallpaper your shop with veneer, yes?  ;D

Seth

 

[Tom R]

Peter and Live4ever,
I share your thoughts, for me as a hobbyist the investment to purchase the wood and holding on to it
would be a problem - don't have the cash flow to keep the wood on the shelf.

I need to purchase and sell the planks, or purchase the wood produce, a product that I can sell the
on the open market. Not sure I have the skill, or market to produce that will sell.

I am on the Gulf Coast and am considering attending a wood working show in the Houston in April - possible buyer their ?

Turning the material in to veneer is a possibility. I have a OLD band saw, but cutting such long lengths would be a problem.

Sorry I am not knowledgeable enough to provide Grade, clarity, etc of the Mahogany, the owner did state is is Ribbon Mahogany

still open to options

I trying to attaching a picture

 

[peter halle]

Seth,

Yes I could veneer my shop entirely in:  figured cherry, anigre, birdswing ecalyptus, paduak, flame maple, and a couple of other woods.  I have smaller lots of many others.

I went wild on ebay when there were a few people selling large lots.  Many of my veneers were longer than the 12' length of my shop to be so I had to cut them.

Tom,

Now I will give advice.  Only buy what you have immediate plans fir.  You say you don't have the money, let the selling be someone else's issue.

Peter

 

[RDMuller]

That looks like African Mahogany to me.  Great wood to work with and finishes out fine, but it is not in the same family from a taxonomist's viewpoint.  This does not look like Brazilian or Honduran mahogany to me from what I can tell.   I could be wrong.  True mahogany is much more difficult to get and would cost more.  I suspect you would not be getting a "steal" at the prices mentioned.

 

[mouppe]

Ribbon mahogany is often called sapele. If it is, then it's not so special and I would pass unless you have a specific project in mind. Sapele is not very expensive and quite easy to get hold of, even in 12/4 sizes.

 

[Tom R]

Thank for all the responses.

The seller offered $8 per sq ft. Based in response on FOG, I will pass unless I negotiate a better deal or get a specific project for the wood.
As a hobbyist, just got excited at the though of doing something big, and catching a break on the material. Reality has set in, and the money will stay in my pocket, and I am OK with that.

Tom R

 

[live4ever]

Probably for the best, Tom.  $8/sqft is a good price since those are 1-3/4" thick, but if you don't have an immediate use for it that's a lot of cash.  Only other reason to pull the trigger would be if the boards were of spectacular grain and figure, but from the picture it looks like pretty run-of-the-mill ribbon mahogany.  As others have said, African mahogany (usually Khaya) and Sapele are both pretty easy to get in thick, clear boards so it's not like you are letting "special" wood go.

 

[semenza]

Tom R ..... good call.

-----------------------------------------------

Peter H ......  sort of a quilted look eh?  [wink]

Seth

 

[jacko9]

Tom,

African Mahogany 8/4 in my area is only $6 BF.  I purchased a unit of Honduras Mahogany a long time ago and used it to make interior and exterior doors as well as a lot of display cabinets.  I kept the largest pieces and now have resting on my lumber rack several pieces 24" wide 20' long 2" thick rough cut.  I have never found the "appropriate" use for these "sticks" and they have become a permanent display in my shop.  Buying lumber for an investment is best left to serious merchants not us wood butchers.

Jack