BOTANICAL NAME: Microberlinia Brazzavillensis

COMMON NAMES: zebrano, zingana, allene, ele, amouk

TYPE:

COLOR: This is a wood which cannot be confused with any other. The name is inescapable --- the grain pattern looks very much like zebra stripes although the darker stripes are much thinner than the lighter stripes. For a wood which sometimes looks even more like zebra stripes, see Macassar Ebony. The dark stripes range from dark brown to almost black and the lighter portion ranges from light tan to golden yellow. The striping varies considerably and the wood is almost always quartersawn to show the striping to good effect. Flat cut pieces can be REALLY striking but you don't often see them. There is a clear distinction between heartwood and sapwood and the sapwood can be up to 4 inches thick. The color does not darken over time.

GRAIN: interlocked or wavy, with several reports saying that this produces alternating hard and soft grained material.

TEXTURE: most reports indicate high luster but my own experience is a more medium luster. Polishes quite nicely.

PROPERTIES / WORKABILITY: easy to work with both hand and machine tools, but it must be carefully planed or it will tear out due to interlocked grain and even occasional grain reversals. The tearout will leave a fuzziness which can be sanded pretty easily. Gluing is satisfactory with care. Finishes well when filled. Used primarily for decorative purposes where strength and mechanical properties are unimportant

DURABILITY: some reports say heartwood is durable and resistant to termite attack, other reports say this wood is non-durable and susceptible to insect attack. Resistent to preservative treatment.

FINISH: one report says that when it is finished with oil and polyurethane it frequently has an "inner light" which is beautiful. That has not been my experience. Another report says that it is is oily but it holds a finish very well. That (the oiliness) is also not in my experience but I agree that it holds a finish well. I have worked with a number of different planks and have never experienced either oiliness or "inner light", but I do find that it will sand and finish quite nicely.

STABILITY: small movement in service

BENDING: no specific report but the fact that it is reported used for archery bows implies good bendability

ODOR: unpleasant odor disappears after drying.

SOURCES: West Africa from Gabon, Cameroon, and Congo --- gregarious, sometimes in pure stands along riverbanks.

USES: boat building, furniture, dowels, floor lamps, cabinets, rifle stock, turnery, fancy goods, marquetry, and decorative paneling (usually in veneer form), inlays, archery bows, decorative veneer

TREE: A very large tree attaining a height of 150 feet with a diameter of 6 feet, the bark is extremely thick, up to 12", and the tree�s yellow sapwood can grow up to 4" wide.

WEIGHT: moderate --- about 46 lbs per cubic foot

DRYING: difficult to dry and requires care in order to avoid surface checking, splitting and distortion.

AVAILABILITY: readily available

COST: moderate --- retail prices for 4/4 zebrawood range between $9/bf and $11/bf. Prices for 8/4 and larger thicknesses were slightly higher. Wholesale prices for 4/4 zebrawood average about $6/bf in quantities of 100/bf or higher.