Mango wood furniture has become a popular decorating option for a number of good reasons. The reason is that it passes the three crucial tests that potential buyers set for any wood used in furniture: it is of good quality, it is attractive, and it is reasonably priced.
The wood itself has a good density on the hardness scale that would be somewhere in the middle, similar to ash or black cherry. The tree itself can grow to a height of about 40 meters (about 130 feet) with a diameter of about 4 feet. It is certainly strong and durable enough to be used on any type of furniture, and it is also waterproof.
In terms of appearance, mango wood comes in a range of colors ranging from almost pink to brown. The color of any individual piece will depend on where the tree was grown and also the time of season it was cut. Some say that wood is most attractive when it is closer to the darkest end of its color range.
There are some factors that make this type of wood much less expensive than others. For one thing, the mango tree grows very quickly once planted and is therefore mature enough to be harvested while other trees are still growing. Furthermore, the tree, of course, also produces the mango fruit, which is in great demand all over the world, but a typical tree can produce fruit for only a few years. As a result, it is available to be cut at an earlier age and then reforested to allow another to be available again in a relatively short time. This results in a greater supply of readily available lumber and this, in turn, keeps the price at a lower level than might be expected.
As stated, the handle is durable but requires some care. It is not suitable for a particularly dry environment. A mango wood table, for example, could start to crack if kept in a dry environment. A humidifier, or a regular treatment with a furniture polish made with natural oils, should solve this problem. There is also the problem of too much direct sunlight, which can also cause cracking or whitening if not taken care of as mentioned above. And finally, the heartwood can be the victim of a fungal infection, so it must be treated before use.
