Wood Species Guide
Utile
Entandrophragma utile
Also called: Sipo, Sipo Mahogany, Assié
About the name “Utile”
Utile is often sold as sipo or sipo mahogany. It is a cousin of sapele in the mahogany family, not true mahogany, and it usually has a plainer, more even look than sapele.
What Utile looks like
Heartwood is golden to reddish brown, a bit more even and less flashy than sapele. The pale brown sapwood is fairly well defined.
Grain and texture
Grain is slightly interlocked, which gives an irregular ribbon stripe on quartersawn boards. Texture is medium to fine with a moderate luster.
Working Utile: planing, cutting and gluing
Works easily with hand and power tools. Quartersawn boards with interlocked grain can tear out, so sharp knives and a shallow last pass help. It glues, turns and finishes well, with a faint cedar-like smell.
Finishing Utile: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes stain, oil and film finishes well and polishes to a warm mahogany look. Seal the pores before an epoxy pour to keep bubbles down. The color deepens with light exposure.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Rated moderately durable to durable, with moderate insect resistance, and it is fairly stable. It is widely used for exterior doors and windows in Europe. In Florida, finish all faces and keep end grain sealed.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Utile is a solid choice for doors, window frames, cabinets and furniture when you want mahogany color with steady, predictable grain. It is more common in Europe than here, so expect to special order it. It stains evenly if you need to match existing mahogany. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Utile
Joinery, doors and windows, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, flooring, veneer and carving.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. It is rated Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of population decline from logging and habitat loss, so buy certified or well-documented stock.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
Occasional skin irritation is the main report. Serious reactions are uncommon.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Skin irritation has been reported occasionally. Use dust collection and a mask when sanding.
Utile in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Utile listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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