hardwood · Millettia laurentii
Wenge wood properties
Also known as: wenge.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Millettia laurentii |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 2,548,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.87 |
| Density (approx) | 54 lb/ft³ (4.5 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 1,930 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 8.3% / 4.8% |
| Region | Central Africa |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Wenge weighs about 18.1 lb (roughly 54 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 1,930 lbf is harder than about 79% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: veneer, paneling, furniture, turned objects, musical instruments.
Durability: Very durable, with solid resistance to termites.
Workability: Often tricky to machine; dulls edges, sands unevenly from varying density, splinters readily, and its large pores resist filling.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Wenge:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (cites USDA FPL Wood Handbook). Not in the FPL/Hoadley dimensional-change table, so movement coefficients are omitted. Uses, region, durability, workability summarized from The Wood Database. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.