Thread: Wenge dark timber - replacement

Originally Posted by Fumbler

Team, short of ebonising some timber and I'm stuck trying to find a timber similar in colour to wenge, but without its intricacies, ie splintering, tearing-out and very unpredictable

any suggestions welcome

Most dark brown- blackish woods like Wenge (especially if figured) are quite expensive and available in smaller sizes, unlike WEnge which was available in large wide boards. Wenge is quite unique in appearance

What about Inland Rosewood (Acacia rhodoxylon) Pic here: Working with Inland rosewood help

It's rock hard and weighs a ton, but it's soooo pretty.

I scored a few lengths of White Bauhinia (Lysiphyllum hookeri) logs that when I 1/4 sawed it (very green) the heartwood looks almost exactly the same as Wenge.

Probably even less available than Wenge though

QLD walnut, if you can source some. Solomon Islands ebony.

Good suggestion. A number of inland Acacias could also be considered as most would have a dark brown heartwood. But few are available in boards the width that Wenge is. But if its squares for turning you want then there are many options among these dryland Acacias.

how much, what sizes, and how soon? we're cutting black bean next week,or at least a small quantity to fill another little order. be 3 months or so by the time it clears the kiln though.

Originally Posted by John.G

how much, what sizes, and how soon? we're cutting black bean next week,or at least a small quantity to fill another little order. be 3 months or so by the time it clears the kiln though.

Thanks John, I'll send a PM to see if you have any left when the time comes with sizes. It's not needed at present so I can wait for it to sun dry if I had to, it was more of suggestion/questions as to colour replacement.

i am currently working on a contrasting piece and I like the colour of Wenge, what I don't like about it is it's fragility. One wrong move and it's Sh-t city, tear-out central. You have to be so careful with grain orientation and some of the stuff I have has the grain structure similar to that of a bowl of spaghetti, some running this way, that way, every way but straight. Which unless you have 'scary sharp' planes is a lot of work to keep right.

thanks