Hey, John Barker...

[Ruffnek]

or anyone else that is knowledgeable on the subject of period furniture.

I'm having some Walnut custom sawed to 12/4 and intend to attempt building a Bombe' chest with it. It will be based on one purported to have been built by John Cogswell of Boston.

What I'd like to know is how sacriligeous is it to use Walnut instead of Mahogany like the original? I don't intend to try to do a faithful reproduction but I do want it to reflect the style and proportions of the era. Is it a major deviation to use Walnut vs Mahog?

I've seen pictures of Bombe's made from African Mahogany which is no more a Mahogany than Walnut. I really didn't like the look, either.

I'm curious to hear your opinion since you have experience working around Period furnniture makers.

Anyone else feel free to chime in on the subject, too.

[Stretch]

Okay, if you're going to be a stickler about it, you have to use Cuban mahogany. There are only a few sources for this since it was harvested almost to extinction and is highly protected now. There used to be a sawyer in Florida who collected storm blowdowns and sold the lumber. Since you can't really get true Cuban mahogany, you can't really be a stickler about it. ;D The next best substitution is South American mahogany which is technically the same species as Cuban mahogany but is not quite the same high quality (it is still very high quality stuff). It is the best choice for achieving that true period look. After that you get into the other "mahoganies" that come from Africa or Asia which are not true mahoganies but are mahogany like.

The thing is that Cuban Mahogany was used just as much for it's working properties as it was for it's beauty. It was available in very wide boards, was highly dimensionally stable, and carved wonderfully. The question of what wood could be substituted for Mahogany has been around for a long time. Cherry was often used because it could be finished to look like Cuban mahogany. Now cherry is getting more expensive and people are looking for substitutes for cherry.

As for my opinion, you're in this for the experience. It doesn't matter what wood you use. If you decide you like it and want to go all out, then you can worry about using the "right" wood. I think Walnut will make a beautiful Bombe chest.

If you want to read a good article on the use of Mahogany historically, try to find "The Age of Mahogany". It was printed in Fine Furniture which was a sister magazine to Fine Woodworking. My boss used to get it and has the back issue. If you want to look at it, I can probably borrow the magazine.

[Stretch]

Apr 11, 2010 19:17:26 GMT -6 Stretch said:

If you want to read a good article on the use of Mahogany historically, try to find "The Age of Mahogany". It was printed in Fine Furniture which was a sister magazine to Fine Woodworking. My boss used to get it and has the back issue. If you want to look at it, I can probably borrow the magazine.

Correction, it was HomeFurniture not fine furniture.

[JBark]

Cody,

A shock to see my name "up in lights." I've calmed down. When I first joined Irion they had not found suitable mahogany for their pieces which should be done in mahogany or for the customers demanding it. They were comfortable using walnut and staining it to mimic mahogany until they found supply of South American mahogany. Chris Arato, a name you probably don't know but was Irion's most talented craftsman, and Irion both said it was pretty good stuff. They had done tons of restoration work on the originals, examined more pieces at local dealors and Winterthur as well as traveling to other museums to look at what they could from a distance. If anyone knew mahogany it was these two. I worked near Arato when he did a six (?) shell Newport secretary out of South American mahogany as well as seeing a bunch of other fine pieces done while I was there; this is excellent stuff.

Walnut offers the some of the same figure as mahogany can. The crotch is stable and beautiful, but if you want great figure I would seek out the mahogany...it shouldn't be any harder to find. Contact Irion, he'll sell you some.

I'm sitting at a walnut library table that I made years ago with a two board, 24" top that Irion gave me. I can't remember why, he was not that generous with wood. Somehow it got a little red to the coloring and I think many would guess it to be mahogany if it had a little more. I hope that helps.

To be a stickler for authenticity on mahoganies used on 18th century American furniture Cuban was not the only source. Hoduran and San Domingan woods were also used. I'd also add that to chose a wood as a substitute for mahogany one would usually limit themselves to woods with an open pore structure like walnut, not cherry. Walnut is beautiful stuff...my favorite.

John

[Ruffnek]

Thanks, John.

I'm gonna use the Walnut. I priced the Honduras Mahogany from Irion lumber and it was just too expensive for my first effort at a period piece. Besides, Karen wants a new bedroom set in Walnut.

I may be PMing you if I get in a pinch on the build.

[Stretch]

Apr 11, 2010 20:15:48 GMT -6 JBark said:

I'd also add that to chose a wood as a substitute for mahogany one would usually limit themselves to woods with an open pore structure like walnut, not cherry. Walnut is beautiful stuff...my favorite.

John

The info on cherry was out of the article I mentioned above. Walnut is my favorite too.