Mango wood comes from the mango tree, which originated in Southeast Asia and is now farmed all over the world. There are over 1,500 species of mango tree in India, alone. Mango wood is considered a hardwood, meaning it has a high density and great strength and durability, however, unique to mango wood, it is also soft enough to create ornate designs. The wood of the mango tree has a dense grain, making it easy to polish and finish, in addition to a natural light brown color with ribbons of yellow, pink, and black.
Mango trees reach full maturity in 10-15 years and the wood of the mango tree is collected when trees can no longer produce fruit. We prefer mango wood over bamboo for many reasons, including the durability, water-resistance, and the significantly lower manufacturing footprint.
Our mango wood alternatives include teak, pine, MDF, and acacia. We can also provide similar materials, such as bamboo or rattan. Teak is a durable hardwood found in the tropics that is water resistant and is most suited for wet areas. In terms of cost, teak is the most expensive wood. Teak also has a longer production time as it is not on hand in our factories. Pine is the least durable of the woods we have available. We would only use pine for the look of its finish. Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is an engineered wood composite made up of leftover hardwood or softwood. We use MDF when we need to do opaque paints over surfaces. MDF is weaker in terms of durability (easily scratched/does not react well to heat), but it has a smoother surface than mango wood and gives a more desirable surface when lacquer is applied over top.
For items that need more durability we can add lacquer paints to mango wood. Our best alternative to mango wood is Acacia; as durable and cost effective as mango wood, we would substitute for its finish/look, which features strong lines of grain. Acacia is also a heavier wood, overall.
Cleaning
For regular cleaning, dust with a soft, dry cloth to remove surface dirt and debris.
Lead Times
For samples, a change of finish from our selection is 2 weeks, a new finish is 3 weeks, and a new design would be 4 weeks.
Durability
Mango wood is considered a hardwood, meaning it has a high density and great strength and durability. Mango wood is durable, but also soft enough to create ornate designs.
Customization
Our mango wood products can be customized by shape, or with laser etching on natural or lacquer finish, screenprinting, resin inlay, brass inlay, and carving.
Our mango wood can also have the following treatments:
Standard Treatments:
- The raw mango wood is first put in a pressurized chamber with a chemical solution of Byflax/borax (a salt chemical mixture) for up to 48 hours.
- The wood is then seasoned by placing it in a chamber to sit for 8-22 days. Seasoning reduces the moisture level and disinfects the wood.
- After the seasoning process the wood planks are cut to size and joined together to form a wood board. The wood boards are further sent for fabrication and converted into the required item. The unfinished piece is now sent for sanding, staining, sealing and lacquering.
- These treatments make the wood more durable and more water resistant.
- All standard wood treatments are food safe.
Additional Treatments:
- Furniture lacquer – furniture lacquer is more stain resistant and more durable than standard lacquering. It is great for furniture and any items that will see a harsher environment; i.e., acidic stains/alcohol.
Like any other tree, mango trees capture carbon from the atmosphere and produce oxygen.
The wood of the mango tree is considered a byproduct, as the wood is only harvested once the tree can no longer produce fruit at its full maturity. The mango tree matures in 10-15 years, which is much shorter than any other hardwood tree, making it easier to grow and maintain a healthy plant. This also allows a quicker tree turnover than many other trees. Mango wood does not need a lot of processing to go from tree to product giving it a lower manufacturing footprint overall.
No design statement is too bold and no detail too intricate for our designers and craftspeople. Customize any of our wood products and wow your guests.
Laser Etching
Lacquer Laser Etching
Wood Carving
Wood Carving
Screen Printing
Metal Inlay
Resin Inlay