what matches mahogany

[big soft moose]

I have "come by" (cough - ebay- cough ) - a dirty great bit of mahogany (originally it was a counter top - and yes i am sure that its proper mahog not iroko or sapelle)

no pictures as yet as its so big i have had to store it work as it wont fit in my 'shop

anyway i'm going to use it to build swimbo a sewing table (basically a cabinet to hold all the sewing fundungus including the machin, reels of thread etc, with a drop leaf to one side and a gateleg support) , however the "client specification" is for it to be in two contrasting woods (originally it was going to be in walnut veneered board with sycamore contrasty bits - but now ive won this mahog i'm using that instead)

and basically i'm looking for suggestions of what contrasts well with mahogany in your experience

 

[9fingers]

Well sycamore is still a contender but to my taste is too stark a contrast. so if you wanted pale then maybe some ash or going darker something much darker like rosewood?

Depends a bit on the proportion of mahog to the contrasting wood.

Bob

 

[Doctor]

Jordan!!

 

[mailee]

Beech contrasts well with Mahogany. I built a table in beech and used Mahogany inlays with it. HTH. :wink:

 

[wizer]

Beech contrasts well with Mahogany. I built a table in beech and used Mahogany inlays with it. HTH. :wink:

Beat me to it! I've pared Beech with Iroko with good results.

 

[motownmartin]

The box in my Avatar was built with Sapele and Ash, Sapele being very similar to Mahogany went well IMO with the Ash.

 

[Philly]

Ebony accents? Think "Greene and Greene".
Philly

 

[stevebuk]

holly would be my choice, lovely creamy colour..

 

[jimi43]

Cherry?

 

[xy mosian]

I think it depends a bit on the final finish for the mahogany. If it is going to be an un-stained fleshy colour then a darker contrast would surely be good, say ebony. However if it is destined to be that lovely dark victorian mahogany colour, then something pale, box, holly sycamore or maple perhaps.

xy

 

[Digit]

I have exactly the same problem Moose. Inch and quarter thick, three feet wide and six feet long. I've had it for some years and I'm scared stiff of using it!

Roy.

 

[OPJ]

Beech might work but I'd personally prefer something slightly 'warmer', like ash or even oak. Unless you were finishing the piece with oil; in which case, that would darken the beech somewhat. Sycamore and maple would be other choices, if you wanted something that pale.

 

[big soft moose]

Beech might work but I'd personally prefer something slightly 'warmer', like ash or even oak. Unless you were finishing the piece with oil; in which case, that would darken the beech somewhat. Sycamore and maple would be other choices, if you wanted something that pale.

I'll be taking a trip to yandles on wednesday so i'll see what they've got which contrasts - i could go with oak on account of how i already have a load, but where would the fun be in that

then i need to work out how the heck i'm going to cut the mahog into manageable pieces (its currently one board 38" wide by 12'8" long - and yes that is one board not jointed planks)

it does seem almost a heresy to cut it up, but i dont need anything that big and i got it quite cheap so cest la vie.

couyrse its the law of sod that this comes up just after ive lent my track saw to miles

 

[jasonB]

I quite like it with oak, its not too stark a contrast and has some warmth, bit like this table although thats oak with mahog rather than mahog with oak, depends which is going to be the main timber.

Jason

 

[big soft moose]

I quite like it with oak, its not too stark a contrast and has some warmth, bit like this table although thats oak with mahog rather than mahog with oak, depends which is going to be the main timber.

Jason

thats a nice table jason - is it one of yours ?

i'm thinking mahogany as the main timber, with maybe oak or whatever as detailing anmd possibly as the gate leg.

 

[jasonB]

Yep one of mine but the design is one of Kevin Ley's from a very early issue of F&C.

Shelf look slike it needs a dust

Jason

 

[bugbear]

Beech contrasts well with Mahogany. I built a table in beech and used Mahogany inlays with it. HTH. :wink:

Beat me to it! I've pared Beech with Iroko with good results.

I normally use steel ;-)

BugBear

 

[bugbear]

Beech might work but I'd personally prefer something slightly 'warmer', like ash or even oak.

I'm not sure the open grain of Ash would it well with the mahog.

QS Oak I can see working OK.

BugBear

 

[wizer]

Beech contrasts well with Mahogany. I built a table in beech and used Mahogany inlays with it. HTH. :wink:

Beat me to it! I've pared Beech with Iroko with good results.

I normally use steel ;-)

BugBear

Took me moment to get that