Technical species specifications for Wenge Hardwood Flooring from Fantastic Floor - Discount Exotic and Domestic Hardwood Flooring, Prefinished Solid Flooring, Unfinished Solid Flooring and Engineered Flooring.
Wenge Hardwood Flooring
- Scientific Name, Other Names: African Rosewood, Awong, Bokonge, Congolese Rosewood, Dikela, Faux Ebony, Mibotu, Mpande, Panga, Panga-Panga, Tshikalakala, Nson-so, Palissandre du congo
- Description: The heartwood is dark brown, mostly black, with fine, closely spaced, very dark veins and white lines. The combination of white bands against the dark wood with black streaks gives Wenge a very attractive appearance. Color variation between boards is reported to be moderate. The grain is fairly straight to slightly roey. The appearance of the wood has been described as expressive.
- Janka Hardness: 1,630 pounds
- Strength (MOR): 0 psi
- Stiffness (MOE): 0 1000 psi
- Density (KG/m3): 870
- Tangential Shrinkage: 9.1 %
- Radial Shrinkage: 5.9 %
- About: 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. The bark from the Wenge tree is used for its toxins to stun fish for harvest. Wenge and the closely related species panga-panga are indigenous to Africa.
- Family: Leguminosae
- Tree Characteristics: The Wenge tree has an average height of 60 feet and an average trunk diameter of 3 feet.
- Geographic Area: Central Africa in the Congo, and the southern regions of Tanzania and Mozambique.
- Color: The heartwood is distinct, being dark and very dense. The tree’s sapwood is pale yellow.
- Photosensitivity: Wenge exhibits a color change from a lighter yellow-brown to a very dark brown that is often confused for black until closer inspection.
- Luster: Low
- Grain: Straight
- Texture: Medium
- Drying Characteristics: Fairly difficult to dry. Best to acclimate 2 weeks prior to installation.
- Working Characteristics: Because of its hardness, Wenge is difficult to cut and machine. Carbide tooling is recommended due to rapid dulling of tools and cutting edges. This wood sands well and has good holding ability. Pre-boring nail holes is recommended. Some solvent-based stains do not dry well when applied to this wood.
- Durability Rating: The heartwood is reported to be durable and is resistant to termites. It is also reported to be highly resistant to preservative tretment but the sapwood is treatable.
- Applications: Musical Instruments, Archery Bows, High Quality Walking Canes, Quality Furniture, Flooring
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