Mahogany wood, which has the scientific name Swietenia Macrophylla ,grow well in the tropics area in Latin America and Indonesia. Our mahogany wood comes from Perhutani Perhutani State Owned Enterprise which manages forests in areas in Central Java / East Java. Mahogany trees are often found grow among teak trees on the island of Java, or planted by the road as a protective plant.
Mahogany wood has an average dried weight of 550 - 650 kg/m3. The janka hardness reaches 500-600, 4.440 N and has a bending strength of 400 - 900 kg/m3 and a pressure strength of 300 - 650 kg/m3. With a strength class level II / III, mahogany wood has the strength to withstand the load well, in both direction, either parallel to the wood grain, or perpendicular to the wood grain.
With the level of durability class III, when mahogany wood placed in direct contact with moist soil can last less than 3 years, if the wood is not protected against wind and climate but protected from water, it can last less than 10 years. When the wood placed in a place which is protected from wind, weather and water (for example indoors), endurance is a lot longer. Mahogany wood is not resistant to insects and fungi, rather quickly eaten by termites. When it is well treated and preserved, mahogany wood will last much longer for decades.
Mahogany wood is not weather resistant. It is best used indoor, as a material for making wood jamb, door, window, wall panel, ceiling panel, stair components, decorative moulding, furniture, home decor, etc.
Although not as strong and as long-lasting as bangkirai wood, mahogany wood has a fine and more beautiful wood grain so it is often becomes the choice of wood material for making solid paneled door. Its fine grain texture makes mahogany wood has long been an alternative wood material that is more affordable than teak and merbau wood. Compared to other hardwoods such as teak, merbau and bangkirai, mahogany wood is less durable, so if you want mahogany wood to be more durable against insects and fungi, you should provide additional preservatives.
Mahogany wood texture is quite smooth, it also has beautiful grain. The color of mahogany is vary from light red, yellowish red to dark red. Mahogany wood is not too heavy when compared with teak, merbau, bangkirai, but the grain is very beautiful, similar to teak wood grain, making it suitable for finishing with transparent wood stain that still shows its own grain. Because the basic color is not too dark, mahogany wood can apply wood stain color ranging from light colors to dark colors. Mahogany wood also suitable with paint finishing system.
Mahogany Wood Grain
Mahogany Wood Finishing Options
Mahogany wood can be finished by using a water-based finishing system, or solvent-based finishing system as follows.
1. Acrylic Water-based Finishing (transparent and solid color water-based)
Water-based finishing is an environmentally friendly, odorless, non-toxic paint that is easily applied with a spray or brush evenly, also easy to repaint. Because of its excellent resistance to ultraviolet light, this finishing is suitable for use in interiors and exteriors. Besides being weather resistant, this finishing is also resistant to mold and insects. Acrylic water-based finishing has good adhesion to the surface of the wood, seeps into the wood pores and is quite elastic, so that the wood will not easily peeled off. The last / top coat of finishing can be selected with the choice of doff / matt or gloss appearance.
There are two types of color in this acrylic water-based finishing system: transparent colors and solid colors. In case of mahogany wood, we recommend both using transparent wood stain( light or dark color) and solid wood stain. Meanwhile, if you choose not to use any color / type of wood stain , then the final appearance of the mahogany wood color will look like the natural color of the mahogany wood, just apply the final layer: clear doff / matt or clear gloss only then.
1.1. Transparent Wood Stain (visible wood grain )
1.2. Solid Color Wood Stain (invisible wood grain)
Mahogany wood can be applied using solid color wood stain as follows:
2. Melamine Solvent-based Finishing (transparent color solvent-based)
Melamine finishing is a two-component wood finishing system with low formaldehyde content so it is relatively odorless and less poignant in the eyes. This paint has a low level of yellowing tendency, and a good level of scratch resistance, has a matt or glossy look, hard and thick coating, and resistant to water and household chemicals. This finishing system still has good transparency so that it can show the authenticity of the wood grain. The last coat / top of finishing can be selected with the choice of doff / matt or gloss appearance.
Melamine finishing has very high transparency properties. Below is a choice of wood stain that can be applied to mahogany wood, either light or dark colors are available. Meanwhile, if you choose not use any wood stain color then the color of the mahogany wood will look like the natural color of the mahogany wood, just apply the final layer : clear doff / matt or clear gloss only then.
2.1. Choice of Transparent Color Wood Stain (visible wood grain )
3. Paint Finishing (solid color solvent-based)
Paint is a nitrocellulose-based auto refinish lacquer paint that is dry, fast, has high glossy visual and is available in a variety of durable color choices. This paint finishing system also has excellent adhesion and durability to be applied to wood. Beside applied to wood, this paint is also known as a painting system on vehicles, machinery, iron and steel. The last coat of paint finishing can be applied with a matte / doff or gloss top coat finished.
Paint finishing has no transparency at all, so it will cover all the deficiencies of mahogany wood visual appearance. Below are some examples of the paint finishing color selection as follows:
3.1. Solid Color Paint (invisible wood grain)
