What is sipo?
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Tropical hardwood · referenceSipo
A handsome reddish-brown wood from Central and West Africa, related to mahogany. Suitable for indoors and sheltered outdoor use — but not in the ground.
- Entandrophragma utile
- Family Meliaceae
- Not in ground or water
Sipo
A handsome reddish-brown wood from Central and West Africa, related to mahogany. Suitable for indoors and sheltered outdoor use — but not in the ground.
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Sipo in brief
The commercial name for Entandrophragma utile Sprague, family Meliaceae — the same family as true mahogany and sapele.
The species occurs in the evergreen tropical rainforests of Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, DR Congo and Congo-Brazzaville.
Sipo is valued for two things: an attractive reddish-brown appearance with a fine striped figure on quarter-sawn wood, and excellent workability. It saws, planes and glues nicely — one of the reasons it became so popular in joinery and decorative work.
Sipo is durable enough for indoors and for sheltered outdoor work such as window frames and doors. But it is explicitly not suitable for direct contact with water or ground. For posts, bank revetments and hydraulic engineering, look at other species.
- Botanical
- Entandrophragma utile Sprague
- Family
- Meliaceae — like mahogany and sapele
- Origin
- Central and West Africa
- Colour
- reddish brown
- Strength in
- workability and appearance
- Not for
- direct contact with water or ground
To be fair: sipo often has interlocked grain, which gives the sought-after striped figure on quarter-sawn wood but makes planing harder — the fibres tear out where the grain direction reverses. Sanding gives a better result than planing.
What characterises sipo
Reddish brown
Warm in tone, darkening under the influence of light — like mahogany.
Striped figure
Visible on quarter-sawn wood thanks to the interlocked grain; sought after in veneer and exposed work.
Excellent workability
Saws, sands and glues nicely. Planing requires sharp tools because of the interlocked grain.
Fairly durable
Sufficient for indoors and sheltered outdoor use, insufficient for ground or water contact.
What sipo is used for
| Use | Suitable? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Windows and doors | Excellent | Dimensionally stable and easy to work |
| Indoor furniture | Excellent | Beautiful colour and figure |
| Veneer | Excellent | The striped figure is the argument |
| Stairs and interior fit-out | Good | Hard enough, warm in colour |
| Sheltered outdoor work | Good | Under a roof or overhang |
| Ground or water contact | Unsuitable | Choose azobé, bilinga or robinia |
Sipo belongs to the Meliaceae, just like mahogany. It is often sold as a mahogany substitute — understandable given its appearance, but ask for the botanical name if it matters.
Frequently asked questions about sipo
Is sipo the same as mahogany?
No, but it is related: both belong to the Meliaceae. Sipo is Entandrophragma utile, true mahogany is Swietenia. Sipo is often sold as a substitute.
Can sipo go in the ground?
Why does sipo tear out when planed?
Because of interlocked grain: the fibre direction reverses regularly, and in those places it tears out under the blade. Sanding gives a better result.
What is sipo most used for?
Windows, doors and interior joinery, plus veneer where the striped figure comes into its own.
Sipo in perspective
A reference species in our register — the African face of the mahogany family.
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Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Entandrophragma utile — Philipp Zinger, CC BY-SA 4.0 · AfricaMuseum, Tervuren — Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0