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Mahogany

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by lategreat808, Dec 17, 2016.

  1. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    Any have the scoop on Mahogany kens? Might actually go with that for my next natty.

    Also, while we are at it, say Mahogany out loud and just think of how weird that word is.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2017
    Dec 17, 2016
  2. RyanArthurWalker

    RyanArthurWalker Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Washington, DC
    I have a mahogany Krom Viking and I love it. It has a great weight, sound and feel. However, it is incredibly slick so that makes it difficult for balance tricks like loon or lighty. Highly recommended however
     
    Dec 17, 2016
  3. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    What mahogany ken are you looking at? There are a number of species of mahogany, with different densities, hardnesses, etc.
     
    Dec 17, 2016
  4. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2016
    Dec 18, 2016
  5. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    @lategreat808 nice, the KROM mahogany plays well, its kinda middle ground for hardness and density as far as mahogany species I've seen go, so they play great!
     
    Dec 18, 2016
  6. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    @htimSxelA ...so you might not know this but I'm guessing if anyone does it probably you. So what does smoking the wood do to the wood exactly? Does it make it softer? Denser? Does it break in faster? Or does it just change the look?
     
    Dec 18, 2016
  7. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    @lategreat808 I don't know if it will give any advantages or disadvantages, from what I know 'smoking' the wood is actually a chemical process that is used to bring contrast to the grain, so its an aesthetic thing.

    It may very well change how the dama plays a little bit, but I'm not sure exactly how. I just poked around a bit online and everything just talks about aesthetics. That isn't to say it won't change the properties of the wood otherwise though, thats just a variable that a furniture maker wouldn't worry about (but a kendama player would), hence it isn't reported. I can't imagine it makes a large change though
     
    Dec 18, 2016
  8. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    Wow...your answers to everything are surprisingly thorough.
     
    Dec 18, 2016
  9. Chad Covington

    Chad Covington Slayer

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2016
    Location:
    Lexington, KY
    Mahogany is a very beautiful wood! It's a pretty unique type as far as kendamas go. Not many companies produce Mahogany! It breaks in fairly well, but it's a pretty dense feeling wood. Be forewarned, it's fairly brittle like Walnut. They don't take well to ground drops!
     
    Dec 26, 2016
  10. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Happy to help! To quote my cousin during xmas dinner "you don't have to wonder anymore" (ie the internet can answer all your questions). No excuses for ignorance these days, I guess.

    Depends on the species of mahog. Genuine honduran mahogany is more like maple. Super soft, not dense, very hard to chip.
     
    Dec 27, 2016
  11. euan

    euan n00b

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2016
    Location:
    Scotland
    I've had a Krom mahogany Viking since they first dropped, wasn't a huge fan at first as it was super slick, and I've broken the big cup twice on very easy tricks, (super glue has held up since then) however it has broken in to be super sticky for a natty dama and one of my all time faves. I couldn't comment on how a regular size one plays. One thing I can say is you should definitely glue the tip, I've glued mine a number of times but it's awfully dull nowadays, can still shred though, and can sometimes even hit a boarder or two.
     
    Dec 27, 2016
    Chad Covington likes this.
  12. Congarranza

    Congarranza DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Location:
    Camarillo, CA
    I'm currently looking at a Sol flow or a KROM Viking. What have you all tried?
     
    Aug 8, 2017
  13. KeeganS

    KeeganS DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2016
    Location:
    Boise, Idaho
    I have a full mahogany Sol Flow. It's a very soft, but very durable setup. The spike takes a beating (even after 2 layers of super glue), but the wood definitely broke in pretty good. Managed to get this Around Fast Hand after working with it for nearly a week.

     
    Aug 8, 2017
    htimSxelA likes this.
  14. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    I hear the KROM mahogony takes a while to break in.
     
    Aug 8, 2017
  15. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Nice! Classic sorta line I love it.

    Worth mentioning: one of my favourite kendamas was a mahogany ken, it was a very low density Honduran mahogany. It was the first ken I handturned with a larger size (Terra 'omega' series, basically the LBB size but handturned), and since it was lower density, each half was like 74-75 grams. I made it in 2011 I think, it was the greatest for just about everything.
     
    Aug 9, 2017
  16. Congarranza

    Congarranza DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Location:
    Camarillo, CA
    Alright!! I'm looking forward to finding something.
     
    Aug 9, 2017
  17. azleonhart

    azleonhart Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    I have a couple of mahogany Vikings which i use for performances.
    Great pop and sound, grain that never disappoints.
    The only caveat is that the sarado can get loose pretty easily, but at the same time, it’s not that easy to break in the tama.
     
    Aug 9, 2017
    Sir Spike and Congarranza like this.
  18. goenKendama

    goenKendama Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Location:
    Metro Manila, Philippines
    I have both but I prefer the Flow. The Viking just feels light for its size. I have a mahogany that's ~188g and a rubberwood that's ~234g. They're both finished pretty much the same but the Flow doesn't appear quite as slick/smooth.
     
    Aug 11, 2017
    Sir Spike and Congarranza like this.
  19. Andy Dama

    Andy Dama Honed Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2017
    Location:
    Milwaukee WI
    I have a smoked mahogany if anyone is interested
     
    Aug 14, 2017
  20. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    Post in DS exchange.
     
    Aug 14, 2017
    KeeganS likes this.