Was it Teak or Mahogany?

[@Joe-hv4xr]

The one which you refer to as mahogany really looks like a Ribbon Stripe Sapele to me. It is in the mahogany spectrum (unrelated to, but often used as a substitute for...).The other...no clue. There are a dozen or so woods which look a bit like that, but without closer inspection - it would be hard to narrow it down more than that. Might be teak, might not though. Even with veneers, I have found that teak tends to feel a bit oily compared to other woods.The best way for identifying veneers that I have found is through comparison with known examples. Finished materials aren't good to use though, as the various fillers, stains and dyes used make an accurate comparison difficult. You can (in the US at least) pick up sample books of veneers for a reasonable price which are handy to have if you are too worried about what is what.The technique shown in the book involves end grain analysis, which is a bit difficult on veneer, even under magnification. You just don't have enough to look at to really get a feel for the structure.One more scientific(ish) method is to actually weigh them. You can work out the mass and then compare it to the dry weight of known samples (easy find that online). Obviously the weight of one sheet will not be much, and the thickness will require significant math - but if you have a dozen or so sheets to work with, you should have enough to calculate out at a higher degree of accuracy.

[@luisgerena6649]

I think you're right about the piece with the dark spots being teak. The dark spots are mineral deposits, which can also appear in white. I worked in a shop that specialized in teak about 12 years ago.

[@thezagrali4972]

Its hard to compare since the first piece is quartersawn sapele the second one might be the same just planesawn, the possibility its teak is also high because the crystalisation on the second piece is way larger than the first one.

[@conscience-commenter]

Thank you for that Savvas . The clear defining telltale look of the mahogany is the alternating bands that shine as well as color. Teak does not have the shine effect and has a flat look like luan. A lighted magnifier, its weight and smell (leather) should help with identification of teak .

[@prepucioeasy]

Hi Savvas, only sure thing I can tell you is you just can't be sure what species it is unless you put a section of it under the microscope. There are not dozens, but actually, hundreds of trees that are used for exotic woods, many so much alike they're called the same (like sucupira, that actually is extracted from two different genera and sold all as the same stuff), also exotic woods are weird, sometimes two different species look the same and sometimes the very same species look very, very different, like some Ipe wood samples will show you, don't assume anything by colour only, usually it's said a exotic wood is in a colour range. Shortage of wood due to uncontrolled forest exploration and poor usage of identification by lumbermills (the majority of the exotic wood in the world is illegal) are factors that enlarge the problem, meaning you probably wouldn't be sure of the real deal even if you bought it. All that being said, those deposits in the first wood are oil(white) or silica (shiny)?As far as I remember Sapele does not have any of this deposits, only a few have silica (Ipe, Itauba), Mahogany and Sucupira have oily ones, though in my opinion Sucupira has very distinct bold lines showing whereas your cut shows mores subtle lines. I've never analised teak, know very little about it, but it sure looks a lot like it. It's in portuguese, but if you can bear google translate, try this link for brazilian woods www.ipt.br/informacoes_madeiras2.php

[@BCdesign1]

I always have the same problem identifying teak or mahogany!

[@OllyParryJones]

That first one with the stripes looks like sapele to me, which is from the mahogany family and, as I've always understood, was imported from Africa... You can buy it quite easily in board-form. It's a 'more affordable' hardwood. I'd also agree with your teak diagnosis, especially after seeing those deposits of what might be silica with your close up shots. Was this the same species you used when you later found the glue joints were separating? I haven't done much with teak but I know it's advisable to clean the surfaces first (white spirit or meths) before applying glue, to remove those natural oils. Saying that, I can remember using teak as a backing when veneering panels at college and we didn't do any cleaning! We did use a urea formeldehyde/powdered resin adhesive (Cascamite/Resinite for example).

[@SavvasPapasavva]

+Olly Parry-Jones Yes it was, but I also used a lot less glue on the first attempt, but it also looks like sapela. The book did mention teak not taking glue that well but the pictures are atrocious. I need a microscope and a Victorian botanists diary.

[@videodred]

You are the Sherlock Holmes of woodworking.

[@SavvasPapasavva]

+Dred Porter If by which you mean a made up detective, you might be right!

[@waynecreech]

I think the 1st piece is Sapele also. I have a bunch of it and it looks exactly like that.

[@gardensofthegods]

I thought the first one was what we used to call satinwood.. I don't know if they're the same ..I'm going to look it up

[@hondough]

absolutely.

[@ddfddfddf]

First one looks like sapele second might be teak . Teak has quite a distinctive smell kind of aromatic and peppery and is quite naturally oily.

[@jeffharmed1616]

Don't agonise over it. Even the experts admit that there is no 100% certainty when identifying wood, especially from a tangential section. See www.woodanatomy.ch/ident_key.html for the complexity of wood identification.

[@SavvasPapasavva]

+Jeff Harmed That's a good website. Cheers!

[@gardensofthegods]

The first one you showed that you said was Brazilian mahogany reminded me of what they used to call SATINWOOD when I was a little kid

[@ovaisallawala9079]

Both sapalee, one is quarter sawn, others is crown cut

[@jeyaseelijohn2422]

Thankyou so much

[@sakeena12]

Sapele African mahogany you cant mistake the distinctive stripes

[@ZickoKhawarizmi]

Teak has unique smell.

[@ovaisallawala9079]

This is sapalee mahogany, it comes from Congo

[@cabinetguy30]

Spanish Cedar

[@watsonsclassics]

forget the wood, I'm interested in what the band sound like.

[@sherrylkeith6549]

On the stodoys website you can find professional help.

[@watsonsclassics]

forget the wood, I'm interested in what the band sound like.