Accoya does not use torrification, or heat, rather it is a chemical process using acetic acid to achieve a similar result. Don't ask me to explain the particulars. Accoya is a brand name referring to the process. When I first looked into Accoya it seemed that a number of species were being processed, but as far as I know only Radiata pine is available in my area.
For exterior millwork with "natural" wood Honduras mahogany ( Swietania Macrophylla from Central/ South America) is hard (impossible) to beat, but difficult to justify due to cost and rarity. The resource has been effectively mined out. I did make a door recently with mahogany faced rails and stiles laid up on a sapele laminated core and solid mahogany panels and moldings, but that was a premium project.
Imagine being a cabinetmaker in 18th century Europe when mahogany was first imported in quantity from the new world. Here was an easily worked, beautiful stable wood that did not have to be glued up for width- effectively plywood, only better, much better. I bet they went to bed happy men, dreaming of ready-mixed glue.
In my fading memory, I assisted my neighbor and colleague 35 years ago with a 30 door project all in solid mahogany , from Peru I believe. Several thousand board feet arrived, 8, 10 and 12/4, the largest planks over 36" wide and I don't remember anything less than 10". We roughed it out, stickered and remilled it, beautiful stuff. Try and find anything like that now. When the white elephant they were installed in was deconstructed due to excessive maintenance costs several years ago the doors were parted out and looked as good as new.
Accoya is what's left, grab it while you can.
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Originally Posted by Jamie Buxton
