If you plan to plane, avoid Sapele, or ribbon mahogany. It has extreme reversing grain and does not plane well. Check Fine Woodworking (It's all on line) and Wooden Boat for recent rundowns on the characteristics of the different species. They are all pretty different, some pretty significantly. If you're just using them for accent strips- I'd especially avoid Sapele. Voice of experience. Also be aware that grain orientation in mahogany is very important and can add interesting effects. Check the work on the subject by Michael Fortune in FW as well. It would open up great and unique possibilities in strip construction I've not seen used before.

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