Replies

1. 
   philip | May 03, 2008 12:36pm | #1

   J,
   I would not say that you are supposed to fill the pores-of Wenge or any other wood, although a few woods can benefit from doing this.
   If you want a smooth surface, which is not natural to Wenge, then you have to fill it.
   I have only finished Wenge by applying a dark solvent stain and then spraying catalysed lacquer . I have also used a light shellac wash and then wax-also came out nicely.
   As an aside- if you have small pieces as in knife handles it looks well if you wire brush it with a power brush along the grain and then finish it. The brush removes the softer parts and accentuates the features.

   Philip Marcou
2. 
   ring | May 03, 2008 05:46pm | #2

   I've finished wenge without filling the pores, just using a very matte acrylic lacquer. I like wenge a lot, but you need to be careful not to let it look like the cheap laminates of the 1950's which were made using photographs of wenge. In short - don't fill the pores and don't go anywhere near glossy.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e