All About Zebra Wood Veneer

Zebra wood is a beautiful, lustrous wood with light and dark colors and a contrasting, straight-to-wavy grain structure that is pleasing to the eye.

But where does this wood come from and why is it such a  popular wood veneer choice? Let’s take a closer look at this marvelous exotic.

What Is Zebra Wood Veneer? Where Does It Come from?

Zebra wood, which goes by many other names including zingana, allene ele,  zebrano, and zebrawood, is a name used to describe multiple species of wood that have similar color, property and grain structure.

The name zebra wood may be applied to the species Microberlinia brazzavillensis, native to central Africa, Pistacia integerrima, native to Asia, or to Astroneum fraxinifolium or Astronium graveolens, natives of Central America. The first mentions of the name zebra wood were to one of these species native to Central America.

The zebra wood veneer we produce comes from a species commonly found in Cameroon in West Central Africa and elsewhere in Central Africa.

The species that grow in Africa are commonly found growing along streamsides, in rainforests, in coastal areas, and in other lowland areas. They sometimes are found growing in stands, and the African species themselves are very fast growing.

The African species, Microberlinia brazzavillensis, can grow to a height of over 100 feet and exhibit trunks over 4 feet in diameter. The wood is hard, heavy, and stiff, and is widely used in furniture making, cabinet making, boat building, and of course, in the production of zebrawood wood veneer sheets.

Color, Appearance, and Grain Structure

Zebra wood possesses a light, tan to golden-yellow background color and dark brown to nearly black stripes that run the length of the grain. This light tan to dark brown coloration is reminiscent of a zebra’s distinctively striped coat, hence the name.

Zebra wood often exhibits a tight, close, straight-to-wavy grain structure, but often the grain is wavy and slightly interlocked. This gives zebra wood a very pleasant aesthetic appearance with light and dark contrast and fairly uniform grain symmetry.

Depending on how the wood is cut, the grain may appear different, as well. For instance, quartersawn (or quartered) zebrawood tends to show a straighter grain, whereas flat sawn varieties tend to show a wavier, slightly more irregular grain orientation. The endgrain of zebra wood (which is not evident in veneer sheets) has large to very large pores

Workability, Durability, Rot-Resistance

Zebra wood is dense and fairly hard; it responds well to sawing but it is difficult to plane and can be difficult to surface because of the occasionally wavy, coarse nature of the grain. Despite this (and the fact that it does not respond well to steam-bending) zebra wood is generally considered easy to work with hand tools.

According to the Janka hardness rating scale which is used to evaluate the hardness of woods, Zebra wood has a rating of 1575. This makes it an exceptionally hard, durable wood, especially compared to many other popular hardwoods. Consider White Oak’s Janka hardness rating of 1360 or American Beech’s Janka rating of 1300; zebra wood is much harder than both of these hardwoods.

Moreover, zebra wood is considered to be a fairly durable wood and is relatively resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage, making it a good choice for projects that require these traits in a tough, long-lasting wood.

Popular Uses of Zebra Wood

Because of its stunning visual appearance, high density and strength, zebra wood is a very popular species and is commonly used in furniture making, inlaying, edgebanding, and to produce tool handles as well as ornamental consumer goods. Zebrawood veneer is used for custom furniture manufacturing, antique furniture restoration, store fixtures, commercial building and hotel lobbies and elevators, cruise ships and yachts, and more.

Its high strength and stiffness make zebra wood a popular material for furniture and niche uses like ski making, as well. Its tight grain and high hardness also mean that ornamental goods made from it can take a nice finish and the wood responds well to engraving, too.

Zebra Wood Price and Sustainability

Zebra wood is not the most expensive species of hardwood, but it is still more expensive than many USA domestic varieties.

In terms of sustainability, and with respect specifically to African Zebra wood, there is some concern. The IUCN classifies this species as vulnerable.

While it is true that the species grows fast and can produce very large specimens, wide scale harvesting due in part to its popularity have brought its status into focus.

Interestingly, this fact is one of the reasons that zebra wood veneer is such a popular and viable alternative to solid zebra wood.

Zebra Wood Veneer: A Popular and Practical Alternative to Solid Hardwood

One of the prime draws of zebra wood veneer (as opposed to solid hardwood) is that one log goes a long way and veneer can be created much more economically than solid wooden furniture. A slice of raw wood veneer is 1/42 of an inch prior to processing into a finished sheet.

In short, the use of veneer sheets instead of hardwood also puts less of a strain on natural stocks of these species.

But that is not the only reason that wood veneer is popular. Wood veneer is not equally subject to splitting, cracking, splintering, and warping in the same manner as solid wood, making it durable and long-lasting. In fact, when properly cared for, veneered products may even outlast their solid wood counterparts.

Wood veneer is also more economical than solid wood, and larger projects can be completed for less than if solid wood were used.

What Oakwood Veneer Offers

At Oakwood Veneer, we carry two different types of zebra wood veneer.

We carry both quartered and Italian quartered zebra wood, in a variety of sizes, with your choice of backer.

Our Italian quartered zebra wood veneer is available with either BFV (bubble-free veneer) or 3M PSA (peel-and-stick adhesive) backing. Our quartered zebra wood veneer is available in these options as well as a 10 mil backer (for pressing only).

Zebra wood veneer is a cost-effective and DIY-friendly option for bringing the contrast and beauty into your home. If you have any questions about our wood veneer products, veneer backing options, or warranty information, please feel free to contact us at 800-426-6018.