Working with Wenge

TheWoodenOyster, not much of help, but what is “wenge”. I’m new at this too, but I have never heard of it.

-- Mark, ”...NEWBEE: On the road to learning a lot; but; a lot more to learn…” ("My Granddad used to tell me, if you didn't learn something new today, it just wasn't worth getting out of bed")

I had the same concerns. Recently finished some end tables.

Dust is very bad. Use a good dust collector and wear a mask.

It’s not hard to cut with a good blade/bits but it is not easy to work with hand tools. Wenge is slow to sand.

It splinters easily.

Handle it as little as possible to minimize splintering.

It’s beautiful when finished.

-- Sorry the reply is so long. I didn't have time to write a short reply.

Wear a mask for dust. Wear gloves for splinters.
Ifyou have dust filtration and/or dust collection use them.
Sawdust and shavings have never caused me problems but suggest you clean up as you go.
Do not have sharp finished edges that may allow splinters.
Apply a coat of oil to make grain pop.

-- ... Never Apologise For Being Right ...

Thanks for the info guys.

MarkSr – wenge is a very dark, almost black African wood. It is a coarse wood and though it can finish well, it is pretty hard to handle. But, you do get the “ebony” coloring without paying as high of a price. The reason I asked about the health issues is because it is pretty well known as one of the most unfriendly woods to work with. The splinters go septic, the dust is nasty, and from my 3 minute handplane session, I can tell you that the shavings smell like a dumpster fire.

-- The Wood Is Your Oyster

The add on to what TheWoodenOyster said:

When he says that splinters can go septic, that deserves extra emphasis. Sepsis means contracting blood poisoning, which can be hard to treat and is sometimes fatal.

I repeat, SOMETIMES FATAL.

It’s beautiful wood, but that stuff can kill you if you’re not careful.

-- Brian Timmons, Big T Woodworks - https://www.etsy.com/shop/BigTWW - http://vimeo.com/98821147

BTimmons,

You are kind of freaking me out a little bit. I mean, I figured they were worse than most splinters. I don’t really want to die making a croquet mallet though. Should I think twice before I start messing with this stuff? It sounds like VX nerve gas to me…

-- The Wood Is Your Oyster

This might give a little more information

http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/wenge/

-- If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!