Source for Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni)

[John Schroeder]

I am finally getting ready to start a long delayed dresser project. I'd stashed away a bunch of cuban mahogany, and planned to acquire any additional needed from a source in Ithaca, NY that IIRC imported plantation grown logs of Swietenia mahagoni. Unfortunately they appear to have gone under. Any other ideas for sources? I get that this may not be possible/available, but thought I'd ask. Love some book-matched flame for the doors as long as I'm looking for unicorns :)

Separately, if anyone has a good source for exotic hardwood in the Albany, NY area (with an hour or three) I'd appreciate that as well.

[Richard Coers]

I suggest you stretch what you have. Make some shop made veneer and you can have all the book matched you want.

[Tom M King]

Some of that plantation Mahogany, that goes by many names, moves more than any wood I've ever seen. I would stay away from it.

[Edward Weber]

I have to agree with Richard.
As mentioned at the wood Database, Cuban Mahogany is in CITES Appendix II, and is on the IUCN Red List
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/32519/68104916

[Kendall Scheier]

If you look in Florida there are some outfits that sell Cuban mahogany that grows locally there (same genus/species) but you avoid the cites issue cuz it’s technically domestic.

[Dave Sabo]

True “Cuban Mahogany” has been illegal to import into the USA for more than 50 years. Long before the CITES list was even a thing.


Those places Kendall mentioned typically sell wood from trees toppled during a storm.

[Mel Fulks]

I recently saw a vender on line selling small pieces at high prices. Google it. GOOD macrophyla mahogany is still great stuff, I would use that. A good horse is better than a newly painted rocking horse !

[Edward Weber]

Like many banned species, it does come up from time to time.
Often a business has failed with old inventory or a large stash in a forgotten warehouse is found.
I have gotten Brazilian Rosewood this way, small pieces to be sure but it's the good stuff.

[Tom M King]

You could always buy an old Steinway piano and repurpose the wood. We have a 1932 and even the legs are solid Cuban Mahogany.

[Ernie Hobbs]

here's a place that might have what you are looking for. Google Maps says it is just under 4 hours to Albany. I have not used them, but several of my family have and swear by the selection for when you need the perfect piece of wood for a special project: https://irionlumber.com/

[Mel Fulks]

I’m sure they have some good stock, but I don’t like the “genuine” mahogany ‘info , It’s all genuine, let’s hear more about what they
have for sale . Has anyone here ever heard macrofyla mahogany called fake mahogany ?

[Jim Becker]

I’m sure they have some good stock, but I don’t like the “genuine” mahogany ‘info , It’s all genuine, let’s hear more about what they
have for sale . Has anyone here ever heard macrofyla mahogany called fake mahogany ?
Mel, the term "genuine" mahogany is generally used to denote actual mahogany species that grow in Latin America, etc., to differentiate from "African Mahogany" which is something completely different. It's not a play on words. Irion is one of the more respected wood suppliers in the US, especially for wide material.