What wood is this?

[smart51]

We've just bought a house built in the early 70s. Wife and son are talking about replacing the stairs, so there might be some interesting wood coming my way. What would you say it was?

 

[DTaylorGuitars]

It looks to me like Mahogany. Unsure of the specific variety. The treads look like they have a veneer glued onto it.

 

[smart51]

It looks to me like Mahogany. Unsure of the specific variety. The treads look like they have a veneer glued onto it.

The grain on the top of the treads matches the edges. I suspect the visible line on the edges is varnish.

The posts and hand rails will stay, but the treads and risers would be mine to make basses out of. Or furniture, but basses are more fun.

 

[Flying B]

Maybe sapele (african "mahogany" which isn't really mahogany)

 

[BioWeapon]

I'm thirding the Mahogany/Sapele suggestion.

I hope you have a good reason to tear down those stairs, as I imagine they're actually quite nice, being made of hardwood.

 

[smart51]

I'm thirding the Mahogany/Sapele suggestion.

I hope you have a good reason to tear down those stairs, as I imagine they're actually quite nice, being made of hardwood.

Sapele was my first thought, but my brother in law thinks its the wrong colour.

My son hit his head on the upstairs floor when walking up them earlier today. They were modified by the previous owner and are more than a bit creaky. For some reason there are 12 shallow steps, which we can replace with 11 standard steps. It will give more headroom at the bottom. Like I said, we will keep the newel posts and the handrails because they match the upstairs. I'll get to keep two stringers and 12 treads.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Real answer - go get "Identifying Wood: Accurate Results with Simple Tools" by R. Bruce Hoadley from the library and whip out your magnifying glass and ruler.

My guess, merely from the pictures, and of no particular validity since it's not a good way to identify wood just looking at a picture - cherry of some sort, probably a different sort in the UK than I'm used to in Vermont.

 

[Smith357]

My first thought was cherry, possibly mahogany, if I could cut it and smell it I would know for sure.

 

[smart51]

An update to the What Wood Is This thread. The stairs are staying but the front door is being replaced. There is easily enough timber for 2 basses.

It is hardwood and a biscuit colour. Not right for cherry. What do you think?

 

[Reedt2000]

Oak was pretty typical, and hard-wearing, so may have been used for steps.

 

[smart51]

Here's a development. This is a piece of the door that has been through the planer. It is dark brown underneath. This piece has a specific density of 0.62

 

[Max Bogosity]

Some type of mahogany?

 

[Beej]

Looks like mahogany to me, and based on the end grain and the fact it was constructed in the 70s, it's most likely honduran mahogany. Other varieties were not as commonly sold as lumber back then. Plus it was very plentiful and relatively cheap. It's not uncommon to find teak veneered furniture from the 50s, 60s, 70s to be made from honduran mahogany.

 

[Bloomfield]

That does look like some type of mahogany, and the piece you show is straight-grained and quartersawn and could be good for necks.

 

[boxerrider]

I'll get on board with mahogany. Nice sample too.