Sapele

[PNWPederson]

Has anyone used sapele in place of teak? Teak is incredibly expensive compared to sapele, about $50 board foot compared to $8 a board foot.

If so, were you able to get a stain on it to match teak? I'm trying to make a couple of interior components for a 1970 Grand Banks.

 

[PierreR]

I have had pretty good luck with Sapele. Color can vary a lot and looking for the right shade and grain can make a large difference in look. Yes it can look very much like teak. It does not have the durability of teak for exterior application.

 

[mvweebles]

I like sapele. Interior of Weebles was originally mahogany (not a high quality) and did the remodel in Sapele. The yard used a lot of sapele as an inexpensive teak replacement, especially in half inch plywood. A lighter shade of brown works well to match teak. Red hues match mahogany. I like oil based minwax stains to play with colors.

The above said. If you're trying to match golden hues of, say, a Grand Banks, you'll find the grain of Sapele a bit coarse.

Good luck.

Peter