Wenge Wood
Description :
The sapwood is whitish or pale yellow and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood, which is dark brown with line, close, near-black veins and white lines. This patterning gives the wood a very attractive appearance. The grain is fairly straight, with a medium to coarse texture and a low lustre.
Properties :
Wengé is a heavy and dense wood which is highly resistant to abrasion. It has a high resistance to shock loads and a high Nunding strength, low stiffness. medium crushing strength and a low steam-bending rating. The wood works well with both machine and hand tools, and has a moderate to medium blunting effect on cutting edges. Pre-boring is required for nailing, and gluing and polishing can be difficult because of the resin cells in the wood. Sawing is slow, but it planes fairly easily. It is a good for turning, and sands satisfactorily. Once the grain has been filled, a satisfactory surface finish can be achieved.
Seasoning :
The wood seasons slowly and is fairly difficult to dry. It is highly prone to surface checking and there is a slight tendency to distort. Wengé exhibits small movement in use.
Durability :
It is a durable wood and resistant to fungi and The sapwood is permeable for preservative treatment, but the heartwood is highly resistant.
Typical Uses :
Furniture, turnery, carving, exterior and interior joinery, violin bows, block and strip flooring, boatbuilding and construction work. Decorative veneers are used for cabinetwork and marquetry.
