Wenge heartwood is medium brown, sometimes with a reddish or yellowish hue, with nearly black streaks. Upon application of a wood finish (particularly an oil finish) the wood can become nearly black. Wenge can be difficult to work with hand and machine tools. It blunts tool edges. It sands unevenly due to differences in density between light and dark areas and is very splintery—care must be used when handling unfinished wood with bare hands, as splinters have an increased risk of infection. It has very large pores and can be difficult to fill if a perfectly smooth/level finish is desired. Common uses include veneer, paneling, furniture, turned objects, and musical instruments. Wenge has excellent strength and hardness properties, and is also dark enough to be used as a substitute for ebony. 2" x 2" x 12" Spindle Turning Blank.