Wenge
| Common Name | Other names sometimes used for wenge include African rosewood (ambiguous), faux ebony, dikela, mibotu, bokonge, and awong. |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Millettia laurentii |
| Distribution | Central Africa from Africa and native to the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. |
| Tree Size | This tree can grow up to a height of about 60-90 ft (18-27 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of about 3-4 ft (1-1.2 m). |
| Dried Weight ( average ) | 54 lbs/ft3 (870 kg/m3). |
| Specific Gravity | .72, .87 |
| Janka Hardness | 1,930 lbf (8,600 N) |
Millettia laurentii may be a legume tree from Africa and native to the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. The species is listed as "endangered" within the IUCN Red List, mainly because of the destruction of its habitat, over-exploitation for timber, poaching at an alarming rate.
Usually pronounced WHEN-gii or WHEN-ghay, the wood has glorious strength and hardness properties and is additionally dark enough to be used as a substitute for ebony. this is often a tropical timber, terribly dark in color with a particular figure, and a powerful partridge wood pattern. The wood is heavy and hard, appropriate for flooring and staircases. many musical instrument manufacturers use wenge in their products.
Wenge wood (scientifically referred to as millettia Laurentii, millettia spp., or millettia stuhlmannii ( panga-panga)) is associated with vulnerable wood sort originating from Central Africa. With the flexibility to grow to the dimensions of 18-27 meters with around 1 meter of trunk diameter, the Wedge wood has managed to draw in important acclaim around the world for its strength, durability, and resistance to termite attacks. The wood of this tree is incredibly sturdy and immune to the attack of insects and termites.
While it is these days most ordinarily used for the creation of veneer, paneling, furniture, turned objects, and high-end musical instruments, it’s presence on the market is dwindling due to the shortage of latest trees.
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, the same old reactions that occur whereas operating with any variety of exotic woods are present here too. However breathing Wenge wood dust has been reportable to cause central system effects, abdominal cramps, irritation of the skin and eyes, and maybe a sensitizer. Also, Wenge splinters tend to require longer to heal and are likely to travel septic (get infected) than splinters from different woods. The dust made once cutting or sanding wenge will cause dermatitis like the consequences of poisoning English ivy and is an irritant to the eyes. The dust can also cause respiratory issues and drowsiness. Splinters are septic, like those of greenheart (the wood of Chlorocardium rodiei).
The Wenge is in demand as this wood is found to be visually putting. The wood is visually putting in its chocolatey brown coloring. It additionally provides nice distinction once made at the side of lighter and contrastive woods. The sturdiness and stability of this wood are on the far side compared.
Wenge is very hard and dense. This toughness is the reason it is such a sturdy wood. This toughness is additionally why Wenge is fashionable for flooring and article of furniture as a result of it will stand the test of time. On the one hand, if this wood is Quarter Sawn it produces a really vertical, straight, and consistent look. Having consistent and straight lumber to figure with makes construction and style a lot easier, thus Wenge is simple to figure with when it comes to looking and grain. On the other hand, if this wood is Flat Sawn it has lovely ‘cathedral’ boards. ‘Cathedral'' Grain may be a vertical arch that will offer nice visual interest and may raise the wonder of any finished product. These will be accustomed to provide nice visual interest added to the putting color of Wenge. it is nice for flooring, furniture, cabinets, and woodwork. Wenge is very fashionable for Flooring, Furniture, Cabinets, and woodwork. The explanation for the popularity is as a result of it’s the mixture of sturdiness, coloring, and accessible textures betting on however it is sawn. it is a good wood to own as a part of any style. A shiny luster will generally emerge through fine-grit sanding of flat sawn boards. Its combination of comparatively light-weight, rot & insect resistance, and spectacular lastingness has yielded the wood to a spread of indoor and outdoor uses, being notably compatible with flooring in serious traffic areas.
Color and Appearance: The heartwood is of medium brown color, generally with a reddish or yellow hue, with nearly black streaks. With the assistance of a decent wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood will become nearly black. The wood's distinctive color is standardized as a "wenge" color in several systems.
Grain and Texture: The grain is straight, with a coarse texture. Low natural luster. Diffuse-porous; giant to very giant pores in no specific arrangement, terribly few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; dark brown mineral deposits sometimes present; medium rays not visible while not the lens, traditional spacing; parenchyma vasicentric, confluent, with wide bands of parenchyma generally as thick because of the pores.
Workability: It will be quite troublesome to work with hand and machine tools. it has a blunting impact on tool edges. This wood will be difficult tricky sanding because it sands unevenly because of variations in density between lightweight and dark areas. This wood is extremely splintery and caution ought to be exercised once operating with or handling unfinished wood with bare hands, as splinters have associated degrees increased risk of infection. Its splinters will be like very little razors and once one penetrates the skin, it is quite painful and therefore the area will quickly and simply get infected if quick action isn’t taken to get rid of it (the splinter) and sterilize the area. very pores will be difficult to fill if a perfectly smooth/level finish is desired.
Odor: Wenge has a faint, slightly bitter scent once being worked. But no characteristic odor is produced while being harvested.
Availability: Available in wide boards and veneer sheets. The prices are high and it is possible to remain therefore as provided dwindle. This wood species is not listed within the CITES Appendices however is on the IUCN Red List. it's listed as vulnerable because of a population reduction of over five hundredths within the past 100 years, caused by a decline in its natural variation, and exploitation.
Common Uses: This wood is usually used for creating veneer, paneling, furniture, turned objects, and musical instruments. It is a tropical timber, terribly dark in color with a particular figure, and a powerful partridge wood pattern. The wood is significant and hard, appropriate for flooring and staircases.
Several instrument manufacturers use wenge in their products. Mosrite used it for bodies of their Brass Rail models. Ibanez and Cort use it for the five-piece necks of a number of their electrical basses. Warwick electrical basses use FSC sourced wenge for fingerboards and necks as of 2013. Conklin Guitars and Basses build the use of wenge for bodies, fingerboards, and necks. Crush drums use it on their restricted reserve wenge drum kit. It is additionally employed by Yamaha as the center ply of their Absolute Hybrid Maple drums.
The wood is fashionable in metameric woodturning due to its dimensional stability and color distinction once mixed with lighter woods like maple. This makes it particularly wanted within the manufacture of high-end wood canes and chess boards.
The wood is typically employed in the creating of athletics bows, notably as a laminate within the production of flatbows. It may be employed in the creating of rails or pin blocks on beat dulcimers.
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