Wenge

Wenge is a special wood. Some might even say it is rich in mystic powers. For hundreds of years it has been used in its native Africa to make ceremonial masks and statues paying homage to gods.

Uses for wenge include interior and exterior joinery plus general construction work. Wenge is a good wood for turnery. It is also prized for wood sculpting because it cuts easily and has a beautiful grain and interesting color that adds to the artistic image. The logs are veneer sliced for high-end cabinetry and architectural uses such as paneling.

Wenge is a very distinctive looking wood, with a dark brown heartwood. It has very close, fine black veins and white lines, which are really closely spaced strips of parenchyma. Parenchyma is tissue composed of cells that are typically brick-shaped or isodiametric. The combination of the white bands against the dark wood with the black streaks gives it an attractive look. Wenge is straight grained and features a coarse texture.

Wenge is similar to maple in natural abrasion resistance and is used extensively for flooring. Flooring is sold both in planks and squares, with marquetry also becoming a popular choice. Because of its strength, wenge is also used as a substitute for hickory.

Wenge is a coarse textured and fibrous wood. When the veneer is sliced, it takes expertise to keep the pores closed with no open, rough edges. It takes time to bring wenge up to its best color; when sliced it is creamy beige, although in time the wood turns a dark brown. Experts say it takes a lot of work to obtain an acceptable finish and the edges can be particularly hard to sand.

It is a slow drying wood and must be carefully checked to avoid degradation, like surface checking. Although wenge is a dense wood, it works well with hand and machine tools. However, there is a slight blunting effect on cutting surfaces.When sanded, wenge gives off a fine dust that can be highly irritating to skin, eyes and lungs. Proper ventilation and the use of masks and protective clotting are recommended.