African Mahogany - Bent Laminations.

[joeljcarver]

Does anyone have experience using African Mahogany for bent laminations?

If so, how does it work out?

I realize that "African Mahogany" can be any of several species.

Thanks. Joel

[dadiOH]

I haven't used any for years and it isn't as springy as, say, white oak but it should be fine, Either Khaya ivorensis or the other khaya, no experience with sapele or sipo.

[Richard]

I used it quite a bit in my previous sailboat for laminated table and shelf fiddles, water stops at the bottom of bulkheads, etc . Tightest curve was about 9 inch radius.

If done carefully, it works fine. Grain is sometimes a bit squirrelly.

I used West 105 for adhesive and top seal, then varnished 6 or more coats of clear gloss varnish (what ever it took to fill the grain), then a spray on coat of satin. Phenomenal results!

[Sonny]

Air dried stock or kiln dried?

I once tried laminating kiln dried walnut, 1/8" laminates, into a slight bo w, for a front chair seat frame rail. At least half of the laminates broke or split, in some fashion, and the remaining didn't laminate very well, ei ther.... even after soaking a second and third batch of laminates in hot wa ter for a good long time (hours). I had selected my straightest grain of s tock, to cut the laminates - 1.25" wide & 2' long. I ended up (bandsaw) cu tting the rail from 1.5X4 stock, rather than laminating.

I'm not sure if it was me (approach & technique) or the wood, but I've sinc e not had much confidence in laminating kiln dried wood.

Sonny

[Richard]

I don't know how it was dried, Sonny. But I had no problems with 1/8 and 3/16 laminations.