If you plan on building some furniture or structures around your home, solid wood or real lumber is often the best choice to go with. That said, there are many different types of lumber that you can use, and they’re all suitable for different purposes. Two popular types include mahogany and Ipe. They both have their benefits, although they are very different.
Let’s determine what makes these two types of wood different from each other, and which one is best suited for your next project.
What Is Mahogany?
Mahogany is a type of deciduous tree, which means that it loses its leaves during the winter. Moreover, mahogany is a type of tropical hardwood tree that is native to the Americas, particularly to the warmer regions. That said, due to exportation, this tree can also be found in some parts of Oceania and Asia.
This wood features a very straight and tight grain that may sometimes be interlocked, and it generally has absolutely no knots, voids, or gaps. In terms of color, mahogany is a reddish-brown color that will darken over time.
This type of wood is very hard and dense and contains a little bit of natural oil and resin, which allow for excellent moisture and pest resistance, as well as rot and fungal resistance. Due to its durability and resistance to the elements, it’s a good choice for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Mahogany is generally quite expensive because it is durable, visually appealing, and makes for a popular choice for high-end applications, such as for high-quality windows and doors, luxury furniture, and for other decorative pieces.
What Is Ipe?
Ipe is also a type of deciduous tropical hardwood tree, one that can be found mainly in South America and the tropical Americas. This wood may also be referred to as Brazilian walnut, so as you can guess, one of the places it is most commonly found is in Brazil.
Many people do say that ipe wood is very beautiful, as it has a medium to fine-grained texture, with the grain often being straight, irregular, or interlocked, with the appearance depending on the exact specimen. In terms of color, the heartwood can be reddish brown to more of a yellowish-olive-brown. This type of wood also contains a good deal of natural oil.
One thing that stands out about this type of wood is that it is extremely hard, dense, durable, pest and fungus-resistant, as well as moisture and rot-resistant. When it comes down to it, this is one of the strongest and most durable types of wood out there. It is suitable for outdoor use and is often used for siding, decking, fencing, and other such purposes.
Mahogany vs. Ipe: What Are the Differences?
Now that we know what these types of wood are, let’s figure out what makes them different from each other.
Hardness
Mahogany comes in at roughly 900 lbf on the Janka hardness scale, therefore making it quite hard. However, ipe wood comes in at over 3500 lbf, making it nearly four times as hard. Therefore, ipe wood is the much more scratch and dent resistant of the two, and far more durable overall.
Weight and Density
Mahogany weighs roughly 800kg per cubic meter, therefore making it fairly heavy and dense. However, ipe wood weighs around 1100kg per square meter, therefore making it much harder and denser than mahogany. This leads to it being more durable, and as you’re about to see, also more resistant to the elements.
Pest and Moisture Resistance
Mahogany is fairly resistant to the elements, which include pests, fungus, moisture, and rotting. However, ipe wood is far more resistant to the elements, mainly because it is much denser and heavier, as well as harder, and it contains more natural oils than mahogany. Therefore, ipe wood is the more suitable option for outdoor use.
Overall Strength and Durability
When it comes down to it, ipe is just the much harder, denser, more resistant, and more durable of the two, and it will last longer both indoors and outdoors.
Appearance – Grain and Color
Mahogany wood is a very good-looking type of wood, as it has a reddish-brown color, straight and tight grain, and very few knots or gaps. On the other hand, ipe wood may have a straight, wavy, or interlocked grain and tends to be much browner in color. Most people would agree that mahogany is the better-looking of the two.
Workability
Because ipe wood is so hard and dense, it can be fairly hard to work with. It will dull your saw blades rather quickly. Also, because it is pretty heavy, it can also be hard to lift. In this sense, mahogany is definitely the easier of the two types of wood to work with.
Cost
The other thing to consider here is that mahogany is slightly more expensive than ipe wood. Mahogany will generally come in at around 15 dollars per board foot, whereas ipe wood will usually average at around 8 dollars per board foot.
When to Use Mahogany Wood?
If you are looking to make some really beautiful high-end furniture, doors and windows, and other decorative pieces, and you don’t mind spending the money on it, then we do recommend mahogany. mahogany is simply the far better looking of these two types of wood.
When to Use Ipe Wood?
If you want something a bit more affordable than mahogany, but also more durable, impact-resistant, and moisture-resistant, then ipe wood is the way to go. If you are doing outdoor structural work, such as siding, decking, or fencing, then this is the wood you will want.
Alternatives to Mahogany and Ipe Wood
If you are looking for the most weather-resistant types of wood out there, other good options include teak, Cypress, cedar, and California Redwood. If you are looking for hardness in your wood, some of the best ones to consider include Brazilian ebony, Brazilian olivewood, and African pearwood.
Before making a final decision, you might also want to read my detailed guides to wood similar to mahogany and ipe alternatives.
Summary
Now that you know what all of the major differences between mahogany and ipe wood are, you can make an informed decision between the two.