Bird number: 103
Date: September 20, 2012
Wood: Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum)
Source: Fellow carver

The carver who gave me this piece of wood has also donated two others to the project: the Cypress Knee and a piece of Buckeye. This is the first piece he’s given me that was large enough to make two birds. He’ll be getting one as a Thank You gift.

Sapele is a large tree (up to 150 feet, or 45 meters) native to tropical Africa. It is in the Mahogany family (Meliaceae), but it’s not closely related to the true Mahoganies. The wood is somewhat similar in character to Spanish Cedar, with a distinctive odor and similar hardness. It does have more color than the Spanish Cedar, though. Carving it with a knife was a pleasure, and it finished up very nicely.

Sapele is a commercially important timber tree. Its most common use is for flooring, but it’s also used for musical instruments, furniture, cabinetry, turned objects, and carving. According to Wikipedia, Cadillac uses Sapele for interior wood trim in its cars.

It’s pretty stuff, and nice to work with. I hope I can get some more of it one day.