Zebrawood

Known for its supreme hardness and stiffness, Zebrawood is an exotic wood most commonly available from countries throughout West Africa. Because of these characteristics, it is often used for skis and tool making. In limited use, Zebrawood is also used for veneer, wall paneling, and custom furniture projects also.

This wood's most distinguishing feature, though, is its aesthetic beauty. Aptly named, every piece of this wood features dramatic color banding like a zebra's hide. The heartwood is a light yellow or caramel brown, with streaks of blackish brown or dark brown. The lines can be bone-straight to wavy, and there tends to be some variation from tree to tree.

The trees themselves are tall, growing up to heights of 150 feet or more. The trunk can be up to five feet in diameter, providing much wood from each tree. Working with this wood once cut can present some problems, though. It emits a very pungent smell (compared to a sewer smell) when freshly cut, but this disappears as it dries. As well, planing this wood can prove very difficult, so experts recommend you use a belt sander to get a truly smooth finish.

At InternetLumber.com, you will find several sizes of zebrawood available. It is sold rough, or unsurfaced, and is priced per foot of boardage. Always allow 10 to 20 percent for waste with this wood and like their other lumber, discounts are available for bulk orders. Call for more information to 1-877-769-5747 or send an email to sales@internetlumber.com.