It’s easy to select any wood type based on your preferences, but choosing the wrong one may compromise the quality of your woodworking projects.
If you’re interested to know if Zebrawood is a hardwood that is suitable for your project, our woodworkers are here to tackle this topic in detail! We’ll also elaborate on its characteristics, benefits, and potential uses. Let’s start!
The Hardness of Zebrawood and its Classification
Zebrawood is known for its distinctive striped appearance, which makes it a popular choice for decorative purposes. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Zebrawood is also known for its hardness and durability, making it suitable for a variety of applications.
It is considered a hardwood, sourced from various deciduous tree species mostly found in African countries such as Congo and Cameroon. It has a Janka hardness ranging from 1575 to 2200 lbf, which puts it on the higher end of the hardness scale.
This makes it a harder wood than some popular choices such as Cherry and Mahogany, but not as hard as Brazilian Cherry, Ebony, or Australian Buloke.
The high hardness of Zebrawood makes it a great choice for flooring and furniture that need to withstand wear and tear. Its durability also makes it resistant to scratches and dents, which can help to extend the life of furniture and flooring made from this wood.
For your reference, here is a list of various wood species with their respective hardness values according to the Janka hardness test, with Zebrawood highlighted:
|
Wood Species |
Janka Hardness (lbf) |
|
Pine |
380-900 lbf |
|
Engelman Spruce |
390 Ibf |
|
White Cedar |
320 Ibf |
|
White Oak |
1360-1910 lbf |
|
Red Oak (Northern) |
1290-1370 lbf |
|
Hard Maple, Sugar Maple |
1450-2100 lbf |
|
800-1200 lbf |
|
|
Black Walnut, North American Walnut |
1010-1220 lbf |
|
950-1150 lbf |
|
|
Imbua ,Black Cherry |
950 Ibf |
|
Pecan,Hickory, Satinwood |
1820-2350 lbf |
|
Zebrawood |
1575-2200 lbf |
|
Brazilian Cherry |
2350-3680 lbf |
|
Golden Teak |
2330 Ibf |
|
Red Mahogany, Turpentine |
2697 Ibf |
|
Ebony |
3220-3760 lbf |
|
Brazillian Walnut |
3,684 lbf |
|
Australian Buloke |
5060 lbf |
|
Douglas Fir |
710 Ibf |
|
Willow |
570 Ibf |
Characteristics of Zebrawood
Zebrawood is renowned for its versatility, offering a combination of hardness and durability that makes it an ideal selection for flooring and furniture requiring resilience against heavy wear and tear.
Another characteristic of Zebrawood is its dimensional stability. It is less prone to shrinkage and expansion due to changes in temperature and humidity, which is great for applications where stability is important, such as in boatbuilding.
This wood is considered to be wood insect resistant. Some species of zebrawood, such as Microberlinia brazzavillensis, have been found to have a natural resistance to decay and insect infestation.
This can make it a good choice for outdoor furniture or other applications where exposure to the elements is a concern.
Zebrawood is also known for its workability. While it can be difficult to cut due to its hardness, it can be sanded and polished to a smooth finish. It also has good gluing and finishing properties, making it a versatile wood to work with.
Lastly, Zebrawood is famous for its unique coloring and zebra-like grain pattern.
These striking and eponymous features make it a popular choice for decorative purposes, which can add a touch of visual interest to any space, whether be it for flooring, furniture, or decorative items such as picture frames or musical instruments.
Here are a few additional details about Zebrawood:
- Wood color: Pale yellow or Light brown
- Density: 670-770 kg/m3
- Hardness: 1575 to 2200 lbf
- Type of wood: Hardwood
- Uses: Furniture, flooring, paneling, veneers, musical instruments, knife handles, and boatbuilding.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Zebrawood
Pros
- Hardness and durability
- Unique appearance
- Dimensional stability
- Workability
- Durable
- Attractive
- Can be used for outdoor projects
Cons
- Cost
- Endangered status
- Foul odor
- Challenges in sourcing
- Potential health risks
- Maintenance
Best Uses for Zebrawood
Due to its versatility, the uses of Zebrawood are not limited for indoors but also for outdoor projects. Below are considered the best uses for Zebrawood:
- Furniture: Zebrawood is often used to make high-end furniture, such as cabinets, tables, and chairs.
- Flooring: Zebrawood's unique appearance makes it a popular choice for flooring in both residential and commercial settings.
- Paneling: Zebrawood can be used for decorative wall paneling in homes, offices, and other spaces.
- Veneers: Zebrawood veneers are often used to add a unique touch to cabinetry and other woodworking projects.
- Musical instruments: Zebrawood is sometimes used for making musical instruments, such as guitars and drums.
- Turned objects: The distinctive stripes of Zebrawood make it a popular choice for turned objects, such as bowls and vases.
- Knife handles: Zebrawood's hardness and durability make it a good choice for making knife handles.
- Boatbuilding: Zebrawood's dimensional stability and resistance to rot make it a popular choice for boatbuilding.
- Exterior Construction: Zebrawood can be used for outdoor applications such as decking, siding, and fencing due to its resistance to decay and insects.
Strength of Zebrawood
Zebrawood has a good strength-to-weight ratio, making it a strong and durable wood. The wood’s strength, coupled with its dimensional stability and resistance to decay and insects, make it a popular choice for a variety of applications.
Here are the additional details when it comes to its compressive and bending strength:
- Compressive strength: Zebrawood has a compressive strength of around 9,620 psi (pounds per square inch), which is considered strong.
- Bending strength: Zebrawood has a bending strength of around 15,710 psi (pounds per square inch) [1], which is considered relatively high compared to other wood species.
Is Zebrawood a Pricey Lumber?
Zebrawood is considered pricey lumber because of its rarity and unique appearance. The wood is sourced primarily from West Africa, and its distinctive striped pattern makes it a popular choice for high-end woodworking projects.
The price of Zebrawood can vary depending on factors such as the size and quality of the lumber, as well as the location and availability of the wood In general, it’s premium hardwood and can be more expensive than many other types of wood.
Is it Good For Making Cutting Boards?
While Zebrawood is highly strong and durable, it may not be a good material for cutting boards because the wood contains natural oils that can be toxic if ingested and can also cause allergic reactions in some people.
Additionally, the wood’s open pores can trap bacteria and make it difficult to thoroughly clean and sanitize. For these reasons, it is generally recommended to avoid using Zebrawood for cutting boards or for surfaces for food preparation.
You might want to check out: Is Elm Good For Furniture?
Hardness of Zebrawood vs Walnut
Here’s a comparison table of the hardness of Walnut and Zebrawood:
Wood Species | Janka Hardness Rating |
Walnut | 1010 lbf |
Zebrawood | 1575 lbf |
As you can tell, Zebrawood has a higher Janka hardness rating compared to Walnut. Zebrawood is considered a relatively hard wood, with a Janka hardness rating of approximately 1575 lbf (pounds-force).
On the other hand, Walnut has a Janka hardness rating of approximately 1010 lbf, which is softer than Zebrawood.
While both Zebrawood and Walnut are popular choices for woodworking projects, Zebrawood’s greater hardness may make it more suitable for certain applications where strength and durability are important factors, such as flooring or furniture.
However, Walnut is still a strong and durable wood and is preferred by some woodworkers for its unique color and grain patterns. Ultimately, the choice between Zebrawood and Walnut wood will depend on the specific requirements of your project at hand.
FAQ
Is Zebrawood durable?
Yes, Zebrawood is durable. It has a high Janka hardness rating and is known for its strength and resistance to wear and tear. Additionally, it is naturally resistant to decay and insect attacks, which can further contribute to its overall durability.
Conclusion
Zebrawood is a hardwood that is beautiful and durable with a high Janka hardness rating. In addition, it’s naturally resistant to decay and insects.
Although it can be relatively expensive and rare, It may be worth the investment for those looking for a unique and high-quality material for their home.
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