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bill stewart
PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 7:08 am 
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Mahogany
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:16 pm
Posts: 95
First name: William
Last Name: Stewart
City: Hawick
State: Roxburghshire
Zip/Postal Code: TD9 9NB
Country: Scotland
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Anyone heard of Utile..related to Sapele (entandrophragrma) and/or used it for back and sides. I've been looking at a set on Ebay, not exspensive and it looks good.

This is my first post on this forum...Hi Guys,

Bill.S

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SteveSmith
PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 8:08 am 
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Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
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Focus: Repair
Hi Bill, I know nothing about Utile but welcome to the forum :P

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StevenWheeler
PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 10:12 am 
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Hi Bill,
Welcome to the forum!
I know nothing about Utile either!

Steve
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Bill Hodge
PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 2:07 pm 
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Howdy Bill,

I've seen the Utile on ebay but same here, I've not been able to find any details about it. Maybe it is called by a different name elsewhere. Welcome to OLF by the way. :)

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RaymundH
PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 2:34 pm 
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There's a nice description here:

http://www.woodworkerssource.com/online ... ma%20utile

and of course this excellent website:

http://officialzootman.net/sipo.htm

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Bill Hodge
PostPosted: Wed May 20, 2009 2:52 pm 
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Thanks for posting that Raymund I was just getting ready to. Another common name is Sipo. :D

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bill stewart
PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 3:49 am 
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Mahogany
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Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:16 pm
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First name: William
Last Name: Stewart
City: Hawick
State: Roxburghshire
Zip/Postal Code: TD9 9NB
Country: Scotland
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks for the welcome guys. :D
Raymund thanks for those websites..lots of information. The properties of the Utile are quite close to that of Honduras Mahogany.

Looks like I might try it out.

Bill

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Bill Hodge
PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:51 am 
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One thing you might want to consider regarding this wood Bill is that it is said to not take finishes very easily. Probably much like that of Cocobolo or Teak. Just a thought for what it's worth. It's dry strength is less than that of Sapelle but it seems to be a bit stronger than some of the other woods used in Luthery. Keep us abreast of your progress should you decide to build with it. :)

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John Hale
PostPosted: Thu May 21, 2009 5:41 pm 
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Location: Nr London, UK
I'm really knew at this halfway through 2, but I was given the wood for number 1 which I thought was mahogany, I've recently been told by a luthiery wood suppliers that it was utile. I found it easy to bend and take a finish I french polished beautifully, but the piece I used was very straight grained and split exceptionally easily, and if I was to do it again I would leave the back thicker and use fabric soaked in glue to reinforce the sides rather than braces, otherwise I think it's wonderful you've just got to treat it gently.

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