WENGE
Botanical Name: Millettia spp.
A strong, heavy, hard wood, wenge offers a familiar combination to the woodworker. It is difficult to work, but delightful to look at. Originating from a tree of moderate size, this deep brown and black wood can offer distinctive veneers with characteristic light streaks of parenchyma, a tree tissue involved in food storage and consumption. For best results, wenge should be worked with very sharp cutters.
Other Names: Dikela, mibotu, African palisander. Sources: Equatorial Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Zaire). Characteristics: Heavy, dense wood; straight grain; coaree texture; dark brown with blackish veins and sometimes streaked with fine, light brown lines.
Uses: Turning, interior and exterior joinery, cabinetmaking, paneling and decorative veneers.
Workability: Generally good; blunts cutting edges rapidly; pre-bore for nailing; poor bending properties.
Finishing: Satisfactory; must be filled for good results. Weight: 55 Ib./cu. ft.
Price: Moderate.
