The Test Cut

Wood Species

Zebrawood

Microberlinia brazzavillensis

Janka hardness
1830 lbf
Specific gravity
0.74
Workability
Difficult to plane/surface due to interlocked grain; glues and finishes fine
See Zebrawood with a finish on itPreview oils, poly, shellac and more on this species in the Finish Simulator — plus the sanding plan each one needs.
A board of Zebrawood -- cream to light brown with the dark stripes it's named for
A board of Zebrawood -- cream to light brown with the dark stripes it's named for

Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis) is a West/Central African hardwood that exists, professionally speaking, for its stripes: light brown or cream heartwood streaked with dark blackish-brown lines. Flatsawn boards throw wide, irregular stripes; quartersawn boards give you narrow, uniform ones instead.

Working Properties

Zebrawood saws well but turns genuinely stubborn the moment you try to plane or surface it — that same striped figure comes from strongly interlocking grain, and interlocking grain means tearout. Get past initial machining and it glues and finishes just fine. It's rated durable and insect-resistant, though some woodworkers report respiratory irritation from the dust, worth keeping in mind.

Typical Uses

Furniture, cabinetry accents, musical instruments, and decorative veneer work — nearly always chosen specifically for the stripe pattern.

Images

A board of Zebrawood -- cream to light brown with the dark stripes it's named for

Raw Wood: A board of Zebrawood -- cream to light brown with the dark stripes it's named for