Blue Viking
Wooden Canoe Maniac
Anyone have any experience to share on procedure for bending mahogany...Have some surplus and was thinking of using it up as ribs in a Wanagan for the OTCA with white cedar planking.....Should look good, I think
Mahogany!
- Thread starter Blue Viking
- Start date
Anyone have any experience to share on procedure for bending mahogany...Have some surplus and was thinking of using it up as ribs in a Wanagan for the OTCA with white cedar planking.....Should look good, I think
Splinter
Wood Girl #1186
Bending Mahogany
If you are talking about genuine Mahogany (Honduras or Central American) Swietenia macrophylla (not Khaya ivorensis from Africa or Meliaceae from the Phillipines) This is a hardwood with LOW dry bending strength and medium crushing strength. However, it is known to have medium-good steam bending properties. Because of it's high decay resistance and great dimensional stability factor (only 6/64ths!!!) it has been bent for ships and furniture for centuries. To attempt a bend with out cracking/splitting, try submerging it in water heated to 70 degrees centigrade (just under 160 degrees F) for a period of time. This may work better than steam bending alone. Wear heat resistant gloves (found in large hardware stores) to test the bending ability from time to time. I don't know what thickness you're thinking of using so I cant tell you how long it could take. Some open cell and some conifererous woods will bend so easily this way you could tie them in a knot. Test, test, test. Let us know how it goes. Splinter
If you are talking about genuine Mahogany (Honduras or Central American) Swietenia macrophylla (not Khaya ivorensis from Africa or Meliaceae from the Phillipines) This is a hardwood with LOW dry bending strength and medium crushing strength. However, it is known to have medium-good steam bending properties. Because of it's high decay resistance and great dimensional stability factor (only 6/64ths!!!) it has been bent for ships and furniture for centuries. To attempt a bend with out cracking/splitting, try submerging it in water heated to 70 degrees centigrade (just under 160 degrees F) for a period of time. This may work better than steam bending alone. Wear heat resistant gloves (found in large hardware stores) to test the bending ability from time to time. I don't know what thickness you're thinking of using so I cant tell you how long it could take. Some open cell and some conifererous woods will bend so easily this way you could tie them in a knot. Test, test, test. Let us know how it goes. Splinter
