Mahogany furniture

Not directly related to refurbishing a period house but the chances are that the peeps on here also have period furniture.

Background is; when I divorced my husband 30 years ago I had to leave some property behind. He promised that he would return it to me when I had somewhere to put it. He met and married his second wife who proceeded to ensure that I was persona non grata and he hasn't spoken to me for 20 years. He died last year and this is when his second wife found out she was giving houseroom to some of my belongings.

I knew from my daughter that it had been turfed out into a stable but I didn't realise how damaged it would be. I had hoped it would have been covered against bird poo but it wasn't. Most of the damage is very obviously deliberate but not irreparable.

Now the reason for my posting. Does anyone on this site know where I can buy 2mm x 15mm strips of mahogany? I've spent sometime googling but haven't found anywhere yet. Can't even find it in a different wood.

It seems you looking for some veneer. There specially carpentry stores carry it or at the least can source it for you. Most come in sizeable sheets maybe 50cm square and get larger from there, you will have to slice your with from the sheet, not a big deal the a sharp razor knive. I am sure some here can get you going in the proper direction.
Ron

No, not veneer, that’s easy to find. Thicker than veneer.

JanieB said:

Does anyone on this site know where I can buy 2mm x 15mm strips of mahogany? I've spent sometime googling but haven't found anywhere yet. Can't even find it in a different wood.

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True mahogany is virtually impossible to get hold of as it listed as an endangered species and trade in the timber is heavily restricted. However, there are other closely related timbers often sold as mahogany - Sapele being one of the more common varieties. If something like Sapele would fit the bill, I have a friend with a thicknesser/planer that could probably cut some strips for you. How long a length do you need ?

Sadly, mahogany furniture seems to be out of fashion these days, and damaged items are almost valueless at auction. So, if it has sufficient sentimental value that you want to repair it, the cheapest way to source the wood might be to cannibalise another old, damaged piece of furniture bought at auction. As Paulc mentions, unless you are already equipped for it, you would then want to find someone with suitable tools to shape and thickness it.

If it doesn't have sentimental value to you, then you might be cheaper replacing it with another piece sourced at auction.

Yes, "brown" furniture has been stubbornly out of fashion for years, except for in America - there are a few dealers here who buy stock and ship it over there. When we cleared out my mother-in-law's house, an example would be a big mahogany 1920's sideboard in excellent condition, went for just £30 at auction. Various bits of dark oak furniture she had didn't fare much better. A big old pitch pine wardrobe went for a lot more.

Sourcing wood from scrap furniture is certainly what the restorers often do. Going down to 2mm thickness could be difficult, I have a thicknesser but mine at least won't go below 6mm - I guess it could be worth trying passing it through on top of a price of ply, but at that thickness I suspect it would break up.

As others have said, unless these have sentimental value I'd be tempted to look round the local auctions for items in better condition.

If you're determined to press ahead, although they don't carry the size you're after, maybe worth speaking to this ebay seller?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40105403...nA7WU2LXWlMqsw%3D%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675

Hi JanieB,

As Worms has already said, the typical approach would be to cannibalise the required material from some old piece of furniture that, in itself, is beyond recovery. A local reclamation yard may be a good place to look for such, if that is, you have the necessary tools and skills to do the job yourself. Depending on the nature and extent of the damage this may require cutting out additional material from the item you want to repair to create a clean joint into which the cannibalised timber will fit after it has been shaped. Once secured in place the new piece of wood can then be shaped as required and then stained and polished to match the surroundings.

This is not an easy task and certainly not something a novice should attempt with an item of some value, financial or sentimental, to themselves or others. A professional furniture restorer would be able to give you an estimate for the repairs based on a few photographs and some dimensions - but the price may draw a sharp intake of breath from you.

Before you go any further it may help if you could provide the readers here with some photos and/or perhaps an indication of the 3rd dimension and how many pieces of the 2x15mm pieces you need?

Cheers,
Cubist

Feltwell said:

Sourcing wood from scrap furniture is certainly what the restorers often do. Going down to 2mm thickness could be difficult, I have a thicknesser but mine at least won't go below 6mm - I guess it could be worth trying passing it through on top of a price of ply, but at that thickness I suspect it would break up.

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Double sided sticky tape should hold up for a couple of passes through the machine.

Good point - would be worth a go at least.

I have the skills but not the equipment as I can't justify the cost. I googled sapele and actually came up with 1.5mm thick sheet mahogany. I can work with that. Thanks for all the advice.

Feltwell said:

Yes, "brown" furniture has been stubbornly out of fashion for years, except for in America - there are a few dealers here who buy stock and ship it over there. When we cleared out my mother-in-law's house, an example would be a big mahogany 1920's sideboard in excellent condition, went for just £30 at auction. Various bits of dark oak furniture she had didn't fare much better. A big old pitch pine wardrobe went for a lot more.

Sourcing wood from scrap furniture is certainly what the restorers often do. Going down to 2mm thickness could be difficult, I have a thicknesser but mine at least won't go below 6mm - I guess it could be worth trying passing it through on top of a price of ply, but at that thickness I suspect it would break up.

As others have said, unless these have sentimental value I'd be tempted to look round the local auctions for items in better condition.

If you're determined to press ahead, although they don't carry the size you're after, maybe worth speaking to this ebay seller?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40105403...nA7WU2LXWlMqsw%3D%3D|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675

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Feltwell I am afraid, and much to my disappointment, brown furniture is worth nothing here as well, on either side of the boarder. As you know I have a large Victorian full of Victorian brown furniture, if I can get half of what it was worth when we bought it I would be happy. We own many higher end pieces my hope is at least those pieces will hold their value.
Ron

JanieB said:

I have the skills but not the equipment as I can't justify the cost. I googled sapele and actually came up with 1.5mm thick sheet mahogany. I can work with that. Thanks for all the advice.

Click to expand...

Based on needing to cut 15mm x 20mm pieces from a 1.5mm veneer, then you should be able to use the modelling tools favoured by marquetry practitioners. £20 will get you a decent saw and a set of specialist knives together with some fine sand-paper.

My problem was cutting a sheet 2mm thick. I’ve been building and renovating dolls houses for 40+ years so have the equipment and skills to cut 15mm strips from a sheet. But thankyou for the advice.

I think luthier supply shops would probably have what you need as the rims of guitars are 2 - 3 mm thick, and mahogany is a very popular wood for the backs and sides of guitars.

The two I know that sell wood are David Dyke and Touchstone Tonewoods. If it is only small bits you need might have something suitable.

I've ended up buying some pine beading and planing the detail off. I then gave it 5 coats of mahogany stain varnish. It won't pass muster if the furniture ever comes up for sale but will look the ticket in my house. I did buy some sapele strip wood but what turned up was veneer. I've kept it as i can use it but it wasn't as described.