WENGE

Panga-panga
Millettia spp.

Shown with water-based finish (top), and oil-based finish (bottom)

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 shown significant movement in use.

WORKABILITY

SAWING AND MACHINING: Difficult due to rapid dulling of tools; carbide tooling recommended.
NAILING: No known problems.
SANDING: Moderately difficult. Particular attention should be paid to removing the scratches from the previous sanding.

Suggested Sequence
First Cut: 50 at a 7-15 degree angle with the grain
Second Cut: 60 straight with the grain
Third Cut: 80 or 100
Hard Plate: 100
Screen: 100 or 120

FINISHING: Staining may be difficult.

COMMENTS: Dermatological and respiratory allergic potential.

ORIGIN

Africa.

AVAILABILITY

Limited availability.