WOOD SPECIES:
Zebrawood
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Microberlinia brazzavillensis
OTHER COMMON NAMES:
African Zebrawood, Allen Ele, Zebrano, Zingana
TYPICAL USES:
Zebrawood’s striking appearance lends itself to a number of decorative uses and applications, including veneers, inlays, marquetry, furniture accents, carving and turnery.
SOURCES:
Africa
AVG BENDING STRENGTH:
16,000 psi
SPECIFIC GRAVITY:
0.69
AVG WEIGHT:
50 lbs/cu.ft.
SAPWOOD COLOR:
Zebrawood sapwood is typically a pale cream color.
HEARTWOOD COLOR:
The heartwood of most Zebrawood lumber is light brown with dark streaks that resemble the stripes on a zebra, thus the wood’s name.
GRAIN:
The grain is typically interlocked or wavy, producing a ribbon pattern.
TEXTURE:
Medium to coarse texture with open pores.
LUSTER:
Zebrawood generally exhibits a very high luster.
MOVEMENT:
With proper seasoning, this wood variety is usually above average in regards to dimensional stability.
DURABILITY:
Zebrawood is considered to be very durable with a high resistance to both decay and insects.
BLUNTING EFFECT:
This timber exhibits an average blunting effect.
CUTTING RESISTANCE:
Zebrawood is typically easy to saw with some rough edges noticed in cross-cutting operations.
PLANING:
Zebrawood is not the most forgiving lumber in machining operations. Interlocked grain patterns may result is tearing.
TURNING:
Turns well on the lathe to a nice smooth finish in most instances.
BORING:
No reported issues.
GLUING:
May require some filling, but otherwise possesses good gluing properties.
POLISHING:
Polishes to a nice, pleasing finish.
STAINING:
Aside from the need to fill its rather large pores, Zebrawood responds quite well to most staining and varnishing applications.
