Wood description:
Wenge wood is hard and so heavy that it does not float on water. Heartwood colour is very dark, close to black, with very well marked thin yellow stripes that tend to get uniform with the exposition to light. Sapwood is white-yellowish and quite narrow.

Histological structure:
Grain: straight;
Texture: from medium to coarse.

Characteristic defects:
Prone to chipping on the striped areas.

Permeabilty:
average permeable sapwood and impermeable heartwood.

Working properties:
Sawing: with care to the considerable hardness;
Drying: slow, some risk of warp and checks;
Planing: difficult due to its hardness;
Glueing: tannins disturb a good adhesion;
Nailing and screwing: pre-boring is advisable;
Finishing: no other problems after tannins.

Main uses:
High class furniture and carpentry for interiors and exteriors;
Decorative veneering;
Musical instruments.

Mechanical properties:
Tensil strength : 1800 kg/cm²
Compressive strength : 800 kg/cm²

Specific weight:
green 1150 kg/m³ , dried 880 kg/ m³.