On Sat, 09 Apr 2005 23:33:39 -0400, "wayner"
wrote:

Has anybody heard of using mahogony in a outside situation as a hand rail

Not in recent years. Mahogany is simply too rare and expensive
(outside Belize). It would certainly work though.

Here in the UK, the likely timber would be "mahogany", but this would
be African and no real relation to true mahoganies. For coarse work
Meranti would be the likely choice, but this has a coarse surface
texture and is prone to splinters. For fine work I'd be looking at
Ipe.

In New Zealand I wouldn't know what to recommend. One of the
Australian posters might have better ideas.
--
Smert' spamionam