Sapele

Sapele is a hardwood that comes from tropical Africa (in fact it is named after Sapele, a city in Nigeria) that is often used for veneer, plywood, furniture, cabinetry, flooring, boatbuilding, musical instruments, turned objects, and other small wooden specialty items.  With a dark to reddish brown color, it is an appealing and economical alternative to mahogany. It can be easily glued, holds nails well, and is dimensionally stable.