Today's
Sponsors:


Wood Doctor's Rx, LLC

Wood Technology Inc

Wood-Mizer

WoodCabinetDoors.Com

WoodenBoat

WoodFinder

WoodJobs.com Search Consultants

WoodLINKS

Woodmaster

WoodPlanet Inc.

WoodSprayGuns.com

WOODWEB

Woodworker's Supply/woodworker.com

Woodworker's Directory

Woodworking in America

Wright Timber

Specialtytools.com

Speed Sander

Spink Lumber

Sprayguncaptain.com

Stefani

Steve H. Wall Lumber Co.

Stiles Machinery

Stiles Shop Solutions

Stoneys Hardwoods

Super Source Tooling Inc.

Supergrit Abrasives

Superior Wood Products

T-Tool USA LLC

Target Coatings

TaylorCraft Cabinet Door Company

Techno CNC Routers

Template Services

The Veneer Store

Thermwood Corporation

Tiger Wood Ltd.

TigerStop

TigerwoodDecking.com

TimberKing

Timesavers Inc.

TMS Machinery Sales

Tomlin Architectural Millwork

Tooling on the Web

Toolstoday.com

Top Drawer

Touch Up Solutions LLC

Tractivity

TradeJobPlacement.com

TradeSoft

Trakware Systems Inc.

TRB Flooring Company

Tropical Hardwoods

True North Cedar

Ubidmachinery Inc.

UC Coatings Corp.

Unique Building Supples

Unique Machine & Tool

University of Wisconsin

UWMO Auctions

VacDry Kilns

Vacuum Pressing Systems, Inc.

Vacuumpods.com

Valspar

Vecoplan LLC

Vector Art 3D

Vectric Ltd.

Veneer Systems Inc.

Vintage Beams and Timbers

Vintage Wood Products

VortexTool Co. Inc.

VyTek

W. Moore Profiles, Ltd.

W.L. Fuller

Wagner Electronic Products

WalzCraft Industries

WEIMA America, Inc.

Weinig Group - USA

Western Dovetail

Williams and Hussey

Wisconsin Knife Works

WMIA

WMMA




Characteristics of Utile Wood       Expert info on that exotic African wood known as Utile. October 23, 2007

Question
Thanks for your input on my last post regarding staved columns. I quoted in Spanish cedar, but now the architect is going for utile. Never heard of it. Neither has my supplier. Anyone have any experience with it or know anything about it?

Forum Responses
(Architectural Woodworking Forum)
From contributor J:
Utile is a relative of Sapele and is sometimes sold as "Sipo" or just African mahogany. We have not (knowingly) used it but have looked at it as a Honduras mahogany replacement. Some of our local suppliers do carry it.



From the original questioner:
My local supplier just found some but they are asking over 5.00 BDft for 8/4. Does this seem right? I need about 2000 ft.


From contributor G:
They change the species and you get to change your quote. There is not just a materials difference. The utile (sapele, African mahogany) type woods are heavier and tougher on your equipment.


From contributor L:
African mahogany... I've nicknamed it wildwood. It just goes crazy while you cut it. I haven't gotten a load that was stable while cutting it. I won't get it again.


From the original questioner:
My experience with African mahogany is that I will get some tear out when planing in the ribbon, but it turns really nicely on my lathe.


From contributor F:
African mahogany is Khaya ivorensis. Utile is Entandrophragma utile. In my experience the only similarity is the country of origin. I wouldn't use khaya for exterior unless it was specified, but I use utile (we started calling it "utility" because we use it so much) for most of my exterior doors.

I disagree with the poster that says it moves when you cut it. My supplier dries 95% of his stock himself and I have found his utile to be very nice to work with. Looks good too.
80-90% of the time I could use utile instead of SA mahogany and no one would know the difference.



From the original questioner:
My supplier says he can get it for 5.00 per bd ft. Does this sound about right?


From contributor F:
Sounds close. I think I can get it for 3.85 a BF for 250 BF (September '06) up here in MA. And it is good stuff, just made a very nice hand rail and parts today.


From Professor Gene Wengert, Sawing and Drying Forum technical advisor:
I would not consider this wood to be related to sapele at all. It is totally different. It weighs less than oak lumber by about 25%. It is not as strong as oak. It is exceptionally stable, requiring about 7% MC change radially and 5% MC change tangentially to result in 1% size change. Oak requires 3% MC change tangentially for a 1% size change. The only possible difficulty with utile is that it does chip out at times, especially with dull tools or with large rake angles on knives. I am curious why such a species would be specified instead of many other comparable ones. What characteristics are desired?


From Professor Gene Wengert, Sawing and Drying Forum technical advisor:
For anyone that is interested in trivia: Spanish cedar is not a cedar or a softwood, but it is a hardwood (leaf tree). It has gum that often bleeds out for years. The gum cannot be set in kiln drying. (Softwood pitch can be set in kiln drying to eliminate all bleeding.)


From the original questioner:
I have first hand experience with the pitch in Spanish cedar and with the smell. One rip and I can taste it. I usually tell my customers to prime it with a stain killer. Hopefully that will take care of the pitch and bleeding.

I am not sure why they would specify utile. I'm told that these exterior columns will be used at a country club in SC. I originally recommended Spanish cedar.



Would you like to add information to this article?
Interested in writing or submitting an article?
Have a question about this article?


Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below?
  • KnowledgeBase: Knowledge Base

  • KnowledgeBase: Lumber and Plywood

  • KnowledgeBase: Lumber & Plywood: Wood Identification

  • KnowledgeBase: Wood Engineering

  • KnowledgeBase: Wood Engineering: Wood Properties




    Would you like to add information to this article? ... Click Here

    If you have a question regarding a Knowledge Base article, your best chance at uncovering an answer is to search the entire Knowledge Base for related articles or to post your question at the appropriate WOODWEB Forum. Before posting your message, be sure to
    review our Forum Guidelines.

    Questions entered in the Knowledge Base Article comment form will not generate responses! A list of WOODWEB Forums can be found at WOODWEB's Site Map.

    When you post your question at the Forum, be sure to include references to the Knowledge Base article that inspired your question. The more information you provide with your question, the better your chances are of receiving responses.

    Return to beginning of article.



    Refer a Friend || Read This Important Information || Site Map || Privacy Policy || Site User Agreement

    Letters, questions or comments? E-Mail us and let us know what you think. Be sure to review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

    Contact us to discuss advertising or to report problems with this site.

    To report a problem, send an e-mail to our Webmaster

    Copyright © 1996-2009 - WOODWEB ® Inc.
    All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without permission of the Editor.
    Review WOODWEB's Copyright Policy.

    The editors, writers, and staff at WOODWEB try to promote safe practices. What is safe for one woodworker under certain conditions may not be safe for others in different circumstances. Readers should undertake the use of materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk.

    WOODWEB, Inc.
    RR4 Box 265A
    Montrose, PA 18801

    Contact WOODWEB













  •   Home » Knowledge Base » Knowledge Base Article