Wenge

[Racers]

Hi,

I am toying with using some Wenge when I re-build my settees the arms will be a rectangular frame with the top and most of the front thinner to hold the side cushion, so has any one used it and where did you get it from. My avatar is made from Wenge but it was only a small piece so I have no experience with bigger bits or finishing apart from wax.

Pete

 

[MikeG.]

Pete,

I know its not what you want to hear, but this is an endangered tropical wood subject to illegal cutting and exporting. Nothing that comes out of the Congo is sustainable or legal given the war situation, and it is listed as endangered on the IUCN red list. I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, however beautiful.

Mike

 

[woodbloke]

Pete - if you are unfortunate enough to use it in bigger sizes, it's the worst wood I've ever come across for long, evil, nasty splinters :twisted: that come off the edge of a board at the drop of the proverbial...use with caution - Rob

 

[John. B]

Wenge in my suppliers wood list shows no thicker than 50mm if he has any? second most expensive, just beaten by Teak.
Last years prices puts it at 25mm - £96.80 & 50mm £99.40 per Cu ft
As Mike says, virtually impossible for many reasons to obtain.
Has an oily surface, long course grain and porous, so grainfilling is essential if you want a fine finish.
Can get tearout when working and sanding, Dust is toxic, splinters will cause festering if not removed immediately.
All in all, I would stick to rosewood :-k :-k :-k :-k :-k

John. B

 

[wizer]

Which is weird because it seems to be more readily available in the states.

 

[PowerTool]

Had some in John Boddys last time I was in ; I agree with Rob about the splinters,though - wouldn't be my first choice for anything likely to be handled (like settee arms,for instance :lol: )

Andrew

 

[Racers]

Hi, Chaps

Thanks

I did a quick google and it seems to be a popular wood at the moment worktops and furniture came up a lot :shock: I had a load of splinters from far eastern ply in my palm and I thought I got them all out but a couple of days later puss every where

I will have to have a think about a different wood shame I was thinking about Wenge and terracotta cushions. They really need recovering, I made it about 15 years ago when I only had a circular saw, drill, one chisel and a record No4, its structually sound but it needs up dating.
I have a few more tools now :wink:


Pete

 

[JonnyD]

I have used it but not for a few years now. The splinters can be a pain but you can get a nice finish from it. I used a A/C lacquer on the bits i made from it and it came out well. You could fill the grain for a super smooth finish but I quite like the open grain. I got mine from Craft Supplies in derbyshire they keep boards in in most species so it might be worth giving them a ring. Given what Mike has said about sustainability i would be wary of using it unless it comes from an FSC source.

Jon

 

[Ironballs]

Is it the colour you're after? If so would bog or fumed oak float your boat?

 

[promhandicam]

. . . where did you get it from? . . .

From my friend Desiré in Lomé, but I guess from Nottingham it is a bit far Togo :wink:. If you want some in the UK, SL Hardwoods have it or at least can get it but as someone else said, it ain't cheep. Having worked with it, I can't say I had any particular problems with it although most of the preparation of the sawn boards was done outside.

HTH

Steve

 

[OPJ]

Yandles in Somerset would probably have some wenge (I'm sure I've seen it there before). But, I know, it's a bit too far for you...! :roll:

 

[Racers]

Hi, Chaps

I might be changing my mind back to Wenge if Craft Supplies have it in stock, but there again I might go for Padouk it does go a dark brown.

Pete

 

[Marco]

I've used it in the past...it gives a pretty decent finish! Splinters are bad though :wink:

very beautiful wood in my opinion

 

[MikeG.]

:shock:

How do you sleep at night, Pete?

 

[Racers]

Hi, Mike

On my right hand side facing away from the wife :wink:

Pete

 

[Oryxdesign]

Pete - if you are unfortunate enough to use it in bigger sizes, it's the worst wood I've ever come across for long, evil, nasty splinters :twisted: that come off the edge of a board at the drop of the proverbial...use with caution - Rob

I would second that it's bad, I got a splinter and ended up with blood poisoning.

 

[Ironballs]

Do you know that when they were designing the Tate Modern the architect planned to use wenge for all of the handrails on the stairs. He'd seen a smaple and thought it looked perfect, right up until someone pointed out that the quantities/lengths he was after didn't exist and he'd have to wait 100 years or so to grow some.

Can you imagine the fun if they had put some in and everyone came out with a nice splinter!