Its enough to drive you crazy... warping and twisting..

I wanted to use quartersawn oak for the sides, and had some mahogany that looked nice for the back and drawer fronts.

I've now decided that I HATE MAHOGANY. Everytime I would cut it, it would twist and warp like crazy.. it was impossible to get any straight edges, on the drawer fronts, never mind some of the other smaller trim pieces. It would warp while cutting, burning the edge, and once jamming the blade when ripping (tripping the breaker on the saw). T I found it so frustrating, I had to put the project aside for a few weeks, before deciding to redo it using cherry and maple. Oh well.. live and learn.

Anyone have the same experience using mahogany?

Nope; did a coffee table recently and it was well behaved. Isn't mahogany noted for it's stability?

Please don't do that -- turn off HTML before posting to Usenet.

Sounds to me like you got a bad batch -- not dried properly, or maybe reaction wood. I haven't done a lot of work with mahogany... but I've found it to be a remarkably well-behaved wood, nothing like the problems you describe.

I wanted to use quartersawn oak for the sides, and had some mahogany that looked nice for the back and drawer fronts.

I've now decided that I HATE MAHOGANY. Everytime I would cut it, it would twist and warp like crazy.. it was impossible to get any straight edges, on the drawer fronts, never mind some of the other smaller trim pieces. It would warp while cutting, burning the edge, and once jamming the blade when ripping (tripping the breaker on the saw). T I found it so frustrating, I had to put the project aside for a few weeks, before deciding to redo it using cherry and maple. Oh well.. live and learn.

Anyone have the same experience using mahogany?

Mike

I've always had good results working with Mahogany. Mahogany is very stable and the grain is straight. Is the grain straight? It might be a stressed section, like a branch - if it is, the stress is relieved each time you rip it. Rip it thicker and plane to size.

Dave

Mike Mac wrote: > I started a project awhile back.. building a watchbox (basically a jewellery box) based on a design from a client. >

Doesn't sound like Honduras mahogany to me.

You sure this isn't something masquerading as real mahogany?

Lew

Strange. Never had any problem with mahogany. In fact, mahogany is so stable it was often used for slide rules, rulers, and drafting equipment. In fact I've got a ruler in my drawer that the base is mahogany, brand name Lutz (just to indicate quality).

box) based on a design from a client.

looked nice for the back and drawer fronts.

twist and warp like crazy.. it was impossible to get any straight edges, on the drawer fronts, never mind some of the other smaller trim pieces. It would warp while cutting, burning the edge, and once jamming the blade when ripping (tripping the breaker on the saw). T I found it so frustrating, I had to put the project aside for a few weeks, before deciding to redo it using cherry and maple. Oh well.. live and learn.

african mahogany? lauan, perhaps?

Not like any of the standard varieties of Philippine mahogany either.

Maybe, but the african mahogany I get here in South Africa is stable. Sometimes a bit of cross grain and tearout but otherwise fine. Nice to work with.

eat the samoosa to reply

Sounds like it was case-hardened while drying.

Jess.S