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Zebrawood is an exotic African hardwood known for its dramatic dark brown stripes against a golden yellow to light brown background. Its distinctive striped appearance resembles a zebra's coat, making it a popular choice for woodturners looking for a bold, natural pattern without using dyes or stains.
Zebrawood is a hard, dense wood with a coarse texture and an often interlocked or wavy grain. It produces striking results on the lathe, although its irregular grain can sometimes cause tear-out. Sharp tools, light cuts and careful sanding will help bring out the beauty of this unusual hardwood.
What are the dimensions of this block?
Each spindle blank measures approximately 2" square × 12" long (51 × 51 × 305 mm), providing plenty of material for a variety of turning projects. The wood is skip planed, meaning only the high points have been lightly planed, leaving a natural, textured surface that's ideal for turning. Each blank is selected at random and may vary in colour, grain and stripe pattern from the image shown.
What kind of projects can I make with a 2" spindle blank?
Zebrawood is an excellent choice for bottle stoppers, pizza cutter and ice cream scoop handles, and some styles of salt and pepper mills. Its bold striped grain also makes it particularly attractive for decorative handles, small turned accessories and other spindle-turning projects.
How should I finish Zebrawood?
Zebrawood's dramatic stripes are its main attraction, so a clear finish that highlights the natural contrast between the light and dark grain is usually the best choice. Because zebrawood often has interlocked grain, use sharp turning tools and take light cuts to minimize tear-out. Pay particular attention to areas where the grain changes direction. Sand progressively through finer grits to achieve an even surface. Avoid excessive sanding pressure, which can generate heat and make it more difficult to achieve a consistent finish.
A clear lacquer, polyurethane or suitable friction polish can help bring out the contrast between the dark stripes and lighter background. Test your chosen finish on a small area first, as some products will deepen the wood's golden tones.
Two fun facts about zebrawood:
Zebrawood's famous stripes are natural features of the wood, not the result of staining or colouring. The alternating light and dark bands follow the grain, which means turning the wood into a curved shape can produce striking patterns that look quite different from those on a flat board.
Zebrawood has been used in decorative furniture and veneers for centuries. Its unusual appearance made it especially popular for decorative furniture during the 18th century, when European cabinetmakers used exotic woods to create dramatic contrasts and intricate designs. Zebrawood was a favorite in luxury car interiors during the 1920s and 1930s because of its dramatic striped look.
Price per blank in Canadian dollars.
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