Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Dec 08, 2006 01:36am | #1

   My older reference book says that Sapele comes from the Ivory Coast, Gold Coast, Belgian Congo, and Nigeria.  The names of most of these countries have changed, but they are all African and the chance that the wood was carefully or sustainably harvested is probably close to zero.

   John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine

1. 
   Pommele | Feb 16, 2007 01:50am | #3

   Dear Sir,

   I saw your comments regarding Sapele.  If I may paraphrase your comment, you were of the opinion that the wood was most likely harvested in a inappropriate manner.

   As someone who travels to West Africa to purchase Sapele logs and lumber I can say with a fair degree of confidence that the majority of lumber harvested in West Africa (Cameroon, Ivory Coast, RCA, Congo, et al.) is done so under strict forest management policy.  While there is, no doubt, some illegal logging, any such activity is against the law and, if discovered, is dealt with by means of very large financial penalties.  I have been pleasantly surprised to discover this reality over the years.  These folks usually understand the implications of poor forestry management and followed sustainable practices well before it became fashionable in the U.S.A. 

   Kind Regards

    

   Edited 2/15/2007 5:53 pm ET by Pommele

1. 
   JohnWW | Feb 16, 2007 02:25am | #4

   Pommele,

   Thank you for taking the time to correct my earlier posting, and to be honest, I am also surprised to learn that responsible forest management is practiced in countries that often times seem lawless in the news we receive.  

   Is there a good source for up to date information about the legality and impact of timber harvesting in Africa and elsewhere?

   John White

   Edited 2/15/2007 6:28 pm ET by JohnWW

1. 
   Pommele | Feb 16, 2007 02:42am | #5

   Mr. White,

   Sadly, I have never come across any such source of credible (i.e.  un-political) appraisal.  Wars and upheaval prevent thorough overview.  None the less, the concessions I have visited in Northern Congo, Cameroon, and the Rep. of Central Africa have been well managed.  Ghana is also a good example of well managed timber production.  There are always exceptions (Liberia comes to mind-Charles Taylor/American educated!), but as a whole I have been very impressed.  African issues run much deeper than meets the eye and my concern for them is more with regard to economic exploitation by foreign companies via some tin hat despot.   I attached a photo of typical Africa Sapele logs.  This is a photo of my first trip to RCA and the Sapele logs were fair size that year (2002).

1. 
   JohnWW | Feb 16, 2007 02:51am | #6

   Thanks for the follow up.  You may be the source for good information in the future since you are both knowledgable and non political, I hope that you will be available if similar questions come up again.  Are you still in the trade?

   Your message doesn't seem to have a photo attached, you may have to try sending it again.

   Thanks again, John W.

2. 
   Pommele | Feb 16, 2007 02:35pm | #7

   Hello again,

   Yes, I am still active in the trade.  While I still am involved in the trade of volume from West Africa, my attention has shifted more to the specialized (figured or unusually large) logs.  Though  I have had the "bug" to educate myself in craft/voodoo of wood working, I have always hesitated for fear of lousing up nice wood.  So, this year I am going to jump in with both feet and have taken a class or two so far in hopes of doing versus dreaming.  Mine is an unusual situation, in that I have access to just about what ever I fancy when it comes to wood . . . but my skill set is less robust and I am hopeful to, with the aid of folks who know a whole lot more than me, do a few things worth being proud of.  There is a great deal of that type of knowledge to be absorbed in reading these post and I will continue to read through them as time allows.

   Kind Regards

    

   I have attempted to post a few photos again.  Hope it co-operates.  There is a photo of a log we just cut this last December that is the largest log we have manufactured to date.  The buttress on the large end was 13' in diameter and weighed 23 tons.  It took two men two days to remove the buttress such that it could be moved to the sawmill.  I included a photo of that as well.  These men are true professionals and I would be hard pressed to process such mammoth logs without their expertise.

   
2. 
   tom77 | Dec 10, 2006 07:21am | #2

   I built a dining table using sapele and it turned out beautifully.  I have also used it in chairs.  I used regular PVA glue for edge gluing with no problems.  I have also done bent laminations with sapele using polyurethane glue.  The dining table finish was gloss polyurethane applied with a brush.  I also filled the grain prior to varnishing.  It took about six coats of varnish before final leveling and rubbing out. 

   Good luck!