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Zebrano

Microberlinia brazzavillensis
Also known as |
Zebrano

Quick Look

Zebrano Lumber @ Rarewoods SA

Zebrawood is a tough, durable, visually striking West African wood whose heartwood base color — which can range from tan to a dull pale yellow, to a muted off-white / almost gray hue, depending on specific region and conditions of growth — is decorated by dark brown striping of varying degrees (ranging to almost black), hence its name. The striping is typically long and fairly uniform when the wood is quartersawn, but wavy and erratic when flatsawn.¬† Sapwood is easily distinguishable (by its lack of striping, naturally) and is usually a light, pale white color.

Its coarse, open-poured texture combined with its wavy and/or interlocked grain patterns can make planing a challenge. (as well as finishing, if filling all surface pores is requisite.) For any sort of resawing or surfacing, blades and cutting tools should be at their sharpest to minimize tear-out.  The wood glues well and usually possesses a pleasant, moderate to high luster, which can make for impressive finishing.

While flatsawn lumber can yield some quite dramatic aesthetic results, quartersawn lumber provides maximum (and sometimes much needed) stability. The species is known to be difficult to dry, with pieces sometimes warping during the kiln drying process. Tiny pockets of small void areas, also, are not uncommon along the darker striped areas — especially among flatsawn boards.

Zebrawood’s trademark aesthetics have made it very popular with veneer mills around the world. However, great care is required when handling, to avoid it cracking.  The wood’s popularity keeps it in steady demand, which makes it moderately expensive in spite of a generally steady supply in the US.  While its demand is based almost exclusively on its aesthetic appeal, Zebrawood is a strong, stiff lumber, once dry.

This species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Why We Love This Wood

We just can't get enough of the gorgeous patterns found in Zebrano. We can't decide whether we prefer the consistent, stripy quartersawn pattern or the wild, wavy flatsawn pattern.

    Quick Look

    Zebrano Lumber @ Rarewoods SA
    https://www.rarewoods.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/coffeetable-francoisjansen1.webp,https://www.rarewoods.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/coffeetable-francoisjansen2.webp,Francois Jansen

    Vital Statistics

    Main Color GroupVariegated
    Grain Pattern Pronounced
    Avg Dry Weight - LB/FT350
    Avg Dry Weight - KG/M3805
    Janka Hardness - LBF1830
    Janka Hardness - N8160

    A Popular Choice in

    PRICING

    Browse all available species online below.
    Custom orders are also welcome. See pricelist for indicative pricing.
    For a more detailed quote, click enquire and be sure to include as much information as possible (I.e. grade, thickness, length, width, volume etc.)

    Other Species

    Chestnut - European

    Durable and relatively affordable, European Chestnut is a popular cladding species in Europe.  With looks similar to Oak and Ash, we are sure you will love the appearance of Sweet Chestnut.  Grain can be interlocked, but Chestnut is still relatively easy to work.  It can split relatively easily, so pre-drilling is essential.

    This is a new species for us here at Rare Woods and a first for South Africa.  We are delighted with what arrived and can’t wait to get it into some of your projects.

    Detail
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    Common Uses
    chestnut-european
    Birch Plywood

    Available in a range of thicknesses and grades, Birch Plywood is a wonderful, high-end board product used in the production of cabinets, furniture and more. With a consistent layer thicknesses, a thick veneer face and all voids patched, Birch Plywood is visually appealing on face grain and end grain, structurally sound and stable in use (indoor application only).

    Our Birch Plywood comes from Eastern Europe and we stock both S/BB and BB/BB grades with thicknesses ranging from 6.5mm to 21mm in standard sheet dimensions of 2.45mx1.22m

    Grade Summary:
    S/BB:  Better face  clear – may have occasional patch.  Second face is BB grade.

    BB/BB: both faces are grade BB.  Can be up to 29 patches, a side, but typically 3-6 patches a side.

     

    Common Uses:
    boxes, cabinetry, carpentry, construction
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    Common Uses
    birch-plywood
    Longhi

    Longhi is an African wood with similar working properties to its more well-known cousin, Anegre. Its color varies from a greyish-white to beige to pinkish-brown color, which slightly darkens with age and UV-ray exposure. Its generally light appearance makes sapwood difficult to distinguish. Its grains are typical straight (though occasionally interlocked) and its texture ranges between fine and medium-fine. It can sometimes possess mottled or subtle tiger-striped figuring.

    The wood must be carefully dried, as it is susceptible to fungus. It is considered to be moderately durable, and moderately stable. Longhi has a solid strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it a popular choice for flooring and decking.

    Common Uses:
    cabinetry, decking, flooring, furniture
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    Common Uses
    longhi
    Birch - Flame Roasted

    “Roasting” Flame Birch involves gradually heating the wood up to temperatures of greater than 160 degrees celcius in special heat chambers made of stainless steel under anoxic conditions. The heat removes organic compounds from the wood cells, changing both the physical and chemical make-up of the wood. The process is natural and chemical free. It darkens the wood to a beautiful rich chocolatey brown color whilst still showing the gorgeous grain and figure of the underlying wood.

    The thermally modified wood is more dimensionally stable, but the process does reduce bending strength and make the wood a little more brittle. This makes it chip a little easier than the un-modified lumber. The brittleness makes it less suitable for intricate cabinetry, but it is still an excellent choice for less intricate items such as floors, tops, panels, cladding etc.

    Extra care needs to be taken when finishing thermally modified wood, as the “bone dry” wood has a tendency to “suck in” much of what is given to it. Our in-house woodworking specialist has had excellent results with Osmo PolyX. He suggests a thicker finish will work better.

    Common Uses:
    flooring, interior panelling
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    Common Uses
    birch-flame-roasted
    Melunak

    This Malaysian species is a medium weight timber suitable for light structural purposes. It is a popular joinery timber and it machines easily and finishes well.

    Common Uses:
    furniture, joinery
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    Common Uses
    melunak
    Anegre

    Indigenous to the tropical regions of East Africa and West Africa, as far south as Angola.¬† Anegre has been used primarily as an interior wood; it is decidedly non-durable, and thus not recommended for outdoor applications. The wood’s aesthetics can vary greatly, as Anegre is comprised of three separate species within the Pouteria genus. Its colors can range from pale yellowish to orangish-brown wood, to a pale pinkish-brown, sometimes with additional highlight coloration. Anegre typically darkens to a golden-to reddish brown over time, with repeated UV ray exposure. The heartwood and sapwood of Anegre are usually not distinguishable from each other.

    Anegre has a medium texture with closed pores similar to Maple.  The species is easy to work with both hand and power tools.
    Examples can be quite beautiful — and sometimes stunning, with curly and mottled figuring being not uncommon. Its hues tend to be generally pastel in nature, so it makes a very complimentary, aesthetically unimposing wood for a variety of interior applications. Grains are typically straight but can occasionally be interlocked. Its texture is medium and it has a nice natural luster.

    Common Uses:
    boatbuilding, cabinetry, carpentry, construction, veneer
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    Common Uses
    anegre
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      Volume Primer

      Our bulk packs are sold in units of volume. (1 pack = 0.1m3).
      Depending on thickness and length you select, you will get a different effective total width. Depending on the widths we select, you will also get a different number of pcs.

      For example, 0.1m3 of 2.45m lengths will get you the following +- TOTAL WIDTH and +- PCS (assuming an average piece width of 140mm) for each thickness:

      M3LENGTHTHICKNESSTOTAL WIDTH+- PCS
      0.12.4526mm1570mm9-12
      0.12.4538mm1075mm6-9
      0.12.4550mm816mm4-7

      Pricing Enquiry

      Quote Request - Species