What is a wenge wood?
Nov 15, 2021 · Wenge is a very hard, very dense, and very colorful streaked hardwood from Africa. It is not often found in sizes adequate for bowl turning, and when it is found, it will come at a rather dear price compared to many other available woods of comparable sizing.
What is the difference between a wenge and black walnut?
Jan 14, 2021 · Wenge is very strong (MOR is 16,200 psi) and very stiff (MOE is 1.97 million psi). It is also quite hard, with a rating of 1630 pounds. The wood is also high in shock resistance; hence its use for sporting goods and tool handles.
Is Wenge a good wood for kitchen cabinets?
WENG) is a tropical timber, very dark in color with a distinctive figure and a strong partridge wood pattern. The wood is heavy and hard, suitable for flooring and staircases. Several musical instrument makers employ wenge in their products. Mosrite used it …
How do you finish Wenge wood?
Wenge wood is a very dense, tightly grained hardwood. It is so dark that it appears almost black and has a fine texture with an attractive grain pattern when finished properly. As far as color goes, wenge wood can range from yellow to chocolate brown depending on how the tree was cut down and wherein the tree the wood was harvested.
Is Wenge Wood a hard wood?
Wenge is a very hard, exotic, dark brown wood with black streaks. It makes a great substitute for Ebony. Wenge is great to add that extra special pop to your woodworking project. General Workability: Wenge is very hard and has a mild blunting effect on cutters.
Is Wenge Wood hard or soft?
Janka Hardness Rating: With a Janka Hardness rating of 1630 out of 4000, Wenge is in the mid-range for hardwood flooring options – about midway between the softer North American Maple, and Hickory. The Janka Hardness scale is used to determine a hardwood's resistance to dents, dings and scratches.
Is Wenge Wood durable?
Wenge wood is extremely durable, thanks to its natural oils and structure. It is also naturally resistant to abrasion, rot, and termite attack. Furniture and flooring made of wenge wood can last for decades when being dried and cared for properly.
Is Wenge Wood good?
Comments: Usually pronounced WHEN-gii or WHEN-ghay, this incredibly popular African hardwood has excellent strength and hardness properties, though it's much more frequently used for its rich dark brown color, which can be dark enough to be used as a substitute for ebony (Diospyros spp.) in certain situations.
What is the hardest wood?
Australian Buloke1. Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF. An ironwood tree that is native to Australia, this wood comes from a species of tree occurring across most of Eastern and Southern Australia. Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.Sep 9, 2021
Is wenge good for furniture?
Wenge is useful for veneering panelling and furniture. The timber has strong bending properties with a moderate hardness which makes it very strong and stiff.
Is wenge wood good for knife handles?
Sometimes referred to as African rosewood, Wenge is an amazingly unique wood with its dark brown to black coloring and striking figure. Wenge knife handle scales can also have lighter brown streaks which gives the wood an unusual, yet delightful, appearance. It is also very tough and has a very high shock resistance.
Is wenge wood waterproof?
Since this wood is so dense, it cannot float on water. While this tree is sometimes used for ornamental purposes, much of its use has been delegated to the woodworking industry, which has sadly placed this tree on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2011.
Is wenge wood expensive?
At $7 to $8 a board foot (144 cubic inches), wenge is no more expensive than other tropical woods.Oct 15, 1998
How strong is wenge?
Strength. Wenge is very strong (MOR is 16,200 psi) and very stiff (MOE is 1.97 million psi). It is also quite hard, with a rating of 1630 pounds. The wood is also high in shock resistance; hence its use for sporting goods and tool handles.
Is wenge A Rosewood?
A very live African hardwood, wenge offers sonic qualities that make it a viable substitute for Brazilian rosewood. This steel-string has a two-piece wenge back.
Is wenge good for guitars?
Wenge is a hardwood with open grain. It offers a relatively bright tone with superb mid-range and a resonant low-end. Wenge is rare but is generally used as backs/sides of acoustic bodies and in guitar necks and fretboards when it is used, rather than in solid bodies.
Why is sand uneven?
Sands unevenly due to differences in density between light and dark areas. Very splintery—care must be used when handling unfinished wood with bare hands, as splinters have an increased risk of infection. Very large pores can be difficult to fill if a perfectly smooth/level finish is desired.
What color is heartwood?
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood can become nearly black. Grain/Texture: Grain is straight, with a very coarse texture. Low natural luster.
Why is the spruce tree endangered?
It is listed as endangered due to a population reduction of over 50% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.
Do wenge splinters go septic?
Also, Wenge splinters tend to take longer to heal and are more likely to go septic (get infected) than splinters from other woods. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information. Pricing/Availability: Available in wide boards and veneer sheets.
Color and Grain
As mentioned before, the color of wenge wood can vary depending on where in the tree it was harvested.
Durability and Stability
Wenge wood is a very durable and stable hardwood which makes it ideal for applications where you need a material that will not warp or change shape over time.
Cost of Wenge Wood
Wenge wood is not cheap and can often cost more than other types of hardwood.
Applications of Wenge Wood
Now that we have talked about the properties of wenge wood let’s take a look at some of the applications where it can be used.
Uses for Wenge Wood
Due to its unique color and texture, wenge wood is often used in high-end furniture, cabinetry, and flooring.
History of Wenge Wood
The use of wenge wood can be traced back to the early 1800s when it was first used by European instrument makers.
What Type of Wood Is Wenge?
Wenge is a type of wood that comes from the African continent. It is a dark brown color and has a very unique grain pattern. Wenge is often used for furniture, flooring, and other decorative items.
Introduction
Wenge Wood (Millettia laurentii) is native to the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. It is a very rare and expensive hardwood.
Uses
Sporting Goods: Wenge is very strong, stiff, and also durable. It has great shock resistance properties. Hence its use for sporting goods and tool handles. Its modulus of elasticity (MOE) value is 1.97 million psi. It is a suitable wood to withstand high shock.
Pros and cons
Wenge wood is known for its visual appeal, color, and rich partridge wood pattern.
Workability
It is unbelievably heavy and not easy to work. Because its density and coarse texture are very high. Machine tools can be easier to work, compared to manual and hand tools.
Availability
Generally, it is easily available in many sizes at local and online stores. Wenge wood is not listed in the CITES Appendices but listed on the IUCN Red List. Due to its high demand and continuous harvesting, its population has reduced by 50% in the last 3 years.
Rot and Insects Resistance
Wenge wood is very resistant to rot and termite attack like many other hardwoods. It contains chemical compounds that protect themselves against decay and moisture. That means it does not require any kind of treatment and chemical processes. It does not allow moisture to penetrate the wood due to its dense grain pattern.
Identification
Wenge is tropical timber. It can be easily recognized due to its great dark color and grain pattern.
What is a wenge wood?
About Wenge. Wenge is a very hard, exotic, dark brown wood with black streaks. It makes a great substitute for Ebony. Wenge is great to add that extra special pop to your woodworking project. General Workability: Wenge is very hard and has a mild blunting effect on cutters.
Why is Wenge wood black?
Because of differing density between light and dark streaks in the wood, Wenge splinters easily—so use care when handling unfinished wood. Once finished, Wenge appears nearly completely black. Two ways to buy Wenge lumber: Order by the foot. Select the number of board feet you want.
What does S2S mean on a lumber?
S2S means the lumber will be surfaced on two sides— it is planed smooth on the top and bottom face but not sanded. The edges are left rough. S4S means the lumber will be surfaced on four sides—it is planed smooth on the top and bottom face with both edges trimmed straight and to size.
How thick is 4/4?
What is 4/4? When lumber is cut at a lumber mill, the thickness is traditionally measured in quarters of an inch. For example, 4/4 equates to 1 inch and 8/4 equates to 2 inches thick. When you order Wenge lumber from us, it is surfaced on both sides (S2S), resulting in a loss of about 3/16 of an inch in thickness.
Is wenge wood kiln dried?
Our Wenge wood is kiln dried. Kiln drying is an effective way of drying green (freshly cut) lumber in a controlled environment to a specific moisture content. The resulting dried wood is stronger and more stable.
What is a wenge wood?
Wenge wood (scientifically called Millettia Laurentii, Millettia spp ., or Millettia stuhlmannii ( panga-panga )) is an endangered wood type originating from Central Africa. With the ability to grow to the size of 18-27 meters with around 1 meters of trunk diameter, the Wedge wood has managed to attract significant acclaim around the world for its strength, durability, and resistance to termite attacks . While it is today most commonly used for the creation of veneer, paneling, furniture, turned objects, and high-end musical instruments , it’s presence on the market is dwindling because of the lack of new trees.
What are the disadvantages of wenge wood?
Since it is so strong, it can actually very easily blunt woodworking tools and can be very hard for manual hand cutting and polishing. Non-carbide tools that are used for cutting of wenge wood are in need of constant sharpening, and sanding attempts that are not sanitized quickly can become ingrained due to the effect of internal oils that quickly harden the wood surface. Staining can also be an issue.
Is wenge wood a good alternative to ebony?
With a simple oil finish, wenge wood can be made to look almost perfectly black, making it as a viable alternative of ebony. Grain of this wood is straight, predictable and pleasing to the eye.
Can a spruce tree float on water?
Since this wood is so dense, it cannot float on water. While this tree is sometimes used for ornamental purposes, much of its use has been delegated to the woodworking industry, which has sadly placed this tree on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2011.
Can blunt tool edges be sanded unevenly?
Can blunt tool edges, is sanded unevenly, can be easily splintered, and can be difficult to be perfectly smoothed out. Texture - Coarse texture, straight and even grain, and with low and natural luster. Sustainability - Marked as a part of IUCN Red List as an endangered species.
Is the sage tree endangered?
During the last few decades of 20th century, the population of this tree was reduced significantly, which prompted the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources to mark this tree as an endangered species.
Is wenge wood used in Africa?
This exotic wood type from central and west Africa is today used less and less. However, because of its excellent durability, structure, and visual aesthetics that make it one of the most premier dark species (which can be used both as a standalone material or paired with lighter wood types), wenge continues to be in high demand even though its price is surging due to rising availability of fresh timber.
What is wenge lumber used for?
In its native land, wenge lumber serves utilitarian needs, becoming everything from barns to benches. It also has a loyal following among native woodcarvers. In Europe, wenge has long been used for fine furniture. However, the recent U.S. market for wenge primarily lies in flooring, veneer, and paneling, although the wood has a growing fan base among furnituremakers, turners, and box makers. It’s an outstanding accent wood.
Where does Wenge grow?
Wenge (Millettia laurentii) and its nearly identical relation, panga panga ( Millettia stuhlmannii ), grow in many of the tropical countries in Central Africa, ranking as a major lumber species there. An attractive dark wood, wenge is hard, heavy, and takes some care when working it.
What is wenge used for?
In Europe, wenge has long been used for fine furniture. However, the recent U.S. market for wenge primarily lies in flooring, veneer, and paneling, although the wood has a growing fan base among furnituremakers, turners, and box makers. It’s an outstanding accent wood.
Why do you wear gloves when transporting wood?
Remove the gloves when working at machines. Because the wood’s dust can irritate your nose, throat, and lungs, put on proper respiratory protection. Wenge can also irritate the skin with a reaction similar to poison ivy.
Why do wenge woods split?
Due to wenge’s hardness, sharp cutting edges (carbide recommended) and drill points are essential. Because of its brittle nature , the wood tends to split and shed splinters. Nailing requires pre-boring. When the splinters embed in the flesh, they can quickly fester.
Can you stain wenge with acetone?
Too, there is little#N#reason to stain wenge. It accepts clear finishes well if the surface is wiped with a fast-dry ing solvent like acetone.
Can wenge irritate skin?
Wenge can also irritate the skin with a reaction similar to poison ivy. Consider wearing tight-fitting long sleeves and a shop apron as a guard. Consider, also, these suggestions: Ripping. The wood’s straight, coarse grain offers good ripping using a quality combination blade.
