Mahogany + Chainsaw mill = good or bad idea?

[kev_s]

Hi,

 

First post so go easy!!

 

I've recently bought some mahogany timbers, they are 13ft long and 13" x 7", big old lumps of pretty straight timber. I bought them to use as retaining walls (they were cheaper than sleepers and totally untreated).

 

They've been sitting in a pile in Clacton on Sea for 8 years, and are in verg good nick, no rot and no signs of any other damage. I've got 13 more than I need and I'd like to try and use them to make a table and some other furniture.

 

I saw a guy called William Wallace using a Mobile Mizer at a recent show and thought that may be a good option, then after a bit of googling came across the alaskan so thats another option.....

 

I'd need to get a more powerful saw my ms181 won't be up to it I don't think. But after advice really, which would be a better option, is the mahogany going to blunt the chainsaw too quickly to make it viable?

 

Any advice welcome!

 

Kev

[slack ma girdle]

If it is for a one off, by the time you have splashed the cash for the toys, it will probably be cheaper/ less waste to take them to a local saw mill.

[tommer9]

Too much waste with an alaskan- 6mm kerf (cut). get them to a bandsaw, or you will have a lot of sawdust and a little mahogany.

[Luke Quenby]

Have a look on Woodlots, quite a few people advertise mobile milling on there. To buy the large saw and alaskan mill will be a lot of money if you havn't got (fairly) regular work for it. Mobile milling it, or taking it to a saw mill will be a lot more economical, plus the mahogony will be mega hard on the saw and chains.

[kev_s]

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for the comments, thats pretty much what I thought!

 

I'd be tempted if I can get a decent saw second hand! I really like the idea of chainsaw milling the wood.

 

I've had a quote for a mobile miller to visit and it wasn't too bad so I think based on that and your comments I'll end up going down that way.

 

Its lovely wood and I feel bad using it for retaining walls but I can't do it any cheaper with other materials. I am looking forward to using the extra 13 lengths for making things with!

 

kev

[John Barleycorn]

What are we talking about here ?

The term "Mahogany" covers a multitude of woods.

Are we talking genuine quality "Mahogany" like from Cuba or S America ?

If so I would get it professionaly sawn.

African, Phillipine etc you could mill up with yourself.

[WADKIN]

As pointed out if it is a true mahogany then you could flog it to someone for a nice little earner and go and buy something more fitting.

 

If you are not too far away from me i would happily run some through for you, and do a deal on some as payment, if it is in fact mahogany, and not just another red timber that everyone calls mahogany.

[kev_s]

Hi,

 

I bought it from a chap in clacton who has had it in his garden for about 10 years. He bought it from someone who imported it from s america a few years before that.

 

Its a lovely red timber, faded on the outsides. Very hard and difficult to cut. I also have some (what are definately) mahogany railway sleepers from brazil that are slightly redder and pretty battered. but look great. I'll take some photos of the work so far and the offcuts so you can see the colours.

 

I don't have the time to flog it and swap with some thing else - I was looking at azobe or jarrah sleepers to do the garden with but they were going to cost quite a bit more.

 

I've found someone fairly local with a mobile mizer whos quoted me a reasonable rate so I'm going to book him in to chop it up once I know what is left over.

 

Thanks,

 

Kev

[WADKIN]

Certainly the best way forward for cutting.

 

It will be interesting to see some images as you say it is very hard and difficult to cut. South American mahogany is fairly easy to work with most means and is one of the reasons it was so popular a few years ago for all manner of uses. It cuts and machines cleanly and was at one time used for everything from aluminum doubled glazed hardwood sub frames,to ships planking, masts, propellers, a huge list of other end uses besides.

 

Over the years there has been huge amounts of different timbers coming out of south American, a some of which can be confused with mahogany.

 

Anyway what matters is that you are pleased with it that aside. Hope it all goes well i look forward to the pictures. Just bear in mind that if it is in good nick inside and Brazilian/Honduras mahogany you could afford to pay someone to do the work and have a choice of materials with change.