Santos Mahogany
Myroxylon balsamum
Santos Mahogany, also known as Cabreuva, is a beautiful and durable South American hardwood featuring rich reddish-brown tones with striking dark grain patterns. Despite its name, it is not a true mahogany but earned the moniker from its similar appearance and warm coloration. This dense hardwood offers exceptional hardness, excellent stability, and natural resistance to decay, making it a premium choice for flooring, decking, and fine furniture.
Janka Hardness
2200 lbf
Very hard
Density
58 lbs/ft³
Very dense
Shrinkage
Low (7.6% tangential, 4.6% radial)
Very stable
Appearance
Color: Deep reddish-brown to purple-brown heartwood with darker reddish-black or purple streaks. Sapwood is pale yellow-white. Color deepens with age.
Grain: Interlocked to irregular grain with fine to medium texture. Distinctive dark streaking creates striking contrast.
Key Characteristics
- •Exceptionally hard and dense
- •Beautiful reddish-brown color
- •Excellent natural durability
- •Distinctive dark grain patterns
- •Good dimensional stability
- •Resists wear and denting
Common Applications
Maintenance
Extremely durable with minimal maintenance needed. For flooring, periodic cleaning and occasional refinishing maintain appearance. Exterior applications benefit from annual oiling.
Advantages
- +Outstanding hardness and wear resistance
- +Beautiful rich color with age
- +Very stable with low movement
- +Good natural decay and insect resistance
- +Long-lasting in high-traffic areas
- +Works reasonably well despite hardness
Considerations
- •High density makes working challenging
- •Can dull cutting tools quickly
- •Pre-drilling recommended for fasteners
- •More expensive than domestic hardwoods
- •Interlocked grain can cause tearout
- •Limited availability in some regions