Wenge

Appearance

Color: Heartwood is yellow-brown when freshly cut, turning dark-brown to almost black with alternate layers of light and dark. Sapwood is yellowish-white and clearly demarcated from heartwood.

Grain: Straight when quartersawn; coarse texture.

Variations Within Species And Grades: Moderate variations in color.

Properties

Hardness/Janka: 1630; (26% harder than Northern red oak).

Dimensional Stability: Excellent (5.8; 33% more stable than red oak). However, actual installations have demonstrated significant movement in use.

Workability

Sawing/Machining: Difficult due to rapid dulling of tools; carbide tooling recommended.

Nailing: No known problems.

Sanding: Difficult. Scratches are easily seen each sanding. Suggested Sequence: First Cut: 36 or 40 Second Cu: 50 or 60 Third Cut: 80 Hard Plate: 100 Screen: 80, then 100

Finishing: Test all products before using them on the actual floor. Oil-modified finishes may not dry if standard procedures are followed. Moisture-cure urethane, conversion varnish, or water base finishes are generally more successful.

Comments: Dermatological and respiratory allergic potential.

Origin

Africa