Replies

1. 
   dgreen | Nov 26, 2008 12:21am | #1

   Here is a link with some info.

   Quite expensive in my neck of the woods and selection is limited.

    

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
   ~ Denis Diderot

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Nov 26, 2008 02:21pm | #4

   DG,

   Did a little searching,  It's had to find here in WI, but Constantine in the Bronx (NY) says they stock it.  Given I'll have some free time, I'll see what they have while I'm out there.  Still think it's crazy and purely for display purposes, my Bro is my best friend, and if that's what he wants, easy enough to build one, assuming can get a nice piece of wood.

   WSJ

1. 
   Ckenney | Nov 26, 2008 04:42pm | #5

   You might want to check the toxicity of zebrawood if it is for a cutting board. Many tropical/exotic woods are not considered foodsafe. Generally, tightgrained domestic species like maple are considered to be the safest for food contact. Zebrawood, being relatively porous, will certainly absorb more liquids, regardles of the toxicity issue.Trying to find a list on the web is tricky. I've searched before and found various articles that talk about the issue, but don't provide a comprehensive list. Maybe someone on the forum has a better source for such a list.I would not want to use it for a cutting board.Good luck.

2. 
   Napie | Nov 26, 2008 08:31pm | #6

   I was at Johnsons Workbench a week ago and they had a bunch of it.<!----><!----><!---->

   http://www.theworkbench.com/<!----><!---->

   <!----> <!---->

2. 
   RalphBarker | Nov 26, 2008 03:07am | #2

   They should really call it dusty-zebra wood. ;-)

   http://www.woodworkerssource.com/zebrawood.html

3. 
   ring | Nov 26, 2008 08:37am | #3

   Yes it can be done.
   Zebrawood is no more difficult to work than many hardwoods.
   It's also known as Zebrano in some places.
   Cost will depend on where you buy it, but don't expect anything imported from Africa and with an exotic name like that to be cheap.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

4. 
   Woodman41 | Nov 27, 2008 01:41am | #7

   Given that this is a family oriented site, I'm not sure it's appropriate to describe Zebra wood... in fact in many states it may amount to animal cruelty subject to prosecution. Besides, zebra wood is quite rare as, well, zebra's are kinda private about their private parts.

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Nov 27, 2008 08:52am | #8

   Woodman,,

   You have to be kidding, but if it makes you happy it can now be referred to as the Leguminosae family of woods for this thread.

   WSJ 

1. 
   oatman | Nov 27, 2008 05:23pm | #9

   WSJ:

   I've turned alot of Zebrawood on the lathe. Quite open grained but finishes well. What I don't like, it stinks to high heaven, at least until it's finished. Like others, I would hesitate to use it for a cutting board becuase of the open grain.

   Dennis

1. 
   Neil | Nov 27, 2008 10:48pm | #10

   I have used Zebrawood fromtime to time.  Although it's pretty it has a very odd smell.  It's probably not the best choice for anything coming in contact with food.

5. 
   chaim | Nov 28, 2008 02:51am | #11

   I have worked it and I strongly suggest a dust mask! It smells and some can develop allergic reactions to it!

   Also try to avoid planing it, you'll get a lot of tare out.

   Use sanders instead.

   Chaim

    

6. 
   musashi | Nov 29, 2008 12:57am | #12

   I have worked a little bit with zebrawood (see attached photo of a box I made for chess pieces), and I am not sure that I would recommend it for a cutting board.  As several people have mentioned, it is open-grained, so in kitchen use it would probably get pretty funky.  Also, I don't think it would stand up to the abuse - there is a reason people use maple for this.

   It is a beautiful wood. In my opinion, it would be more suited to something more decorative. 

   Alex

    

    

   Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
   -Groucho Marx
1. 
   musashi | Nov 29, 2008 12:59am | #13

   Let's try again with the picture.

    

    

    

   Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.-Groucho Marx

   Edited 11/28/2008 5:00 pm ET by musashi

   
2. 
   WorkshopJon | Nov 29, 2008 09:45am | #15

   Musashi,

   I have mentioned to my brother, who this cutting board would be a gift for, everything that has been said in this post.  He still wants one, but has told me it, for the most part, will be ornamental.  At most will be used once or twice a year.

   The most important feature, other than being made of "Zebrawood",  is to catch all the "drippings" when carving a 20lb bird or a very large prime rib roast.

   I came up in my head, I think, with a design for it.  More or less a trough with a milled perimeter channel.  It will probably all be CAD modeled, and done on a CNC. It will measure something like 24" x 18" x 2".....Just have to find the piece of wood.

   WSJ 

    

1. 
   Ckenney | Nov 29, 2008 07:22pm | #17

   EGADS!Hot meat drippings on zebrawood! Aside from any potential toxicity issues, which would be increased by hot, wet food, meat drippings are going to get into the coarse open pores, and be a bear to clean out. A bacterial playground in the making.Please try to convince him that you should save zebrawood for another project for him, and stick to a tight grained maple, curly if he wants it ornamental.IMHO, of course.

7. 
   ted | Nov 29, 2008 05:40am | #14

   Just my 2 cents and you can take it for what it's worth. IMHO Zebra wood is one of those exotics that is , . . . well just plain obnoxious. No offense on the wood itself but the stripes I have found to be quite overbearing and often overpowers the design of a piece. That is the material screams out at the viewer much in the same vein as pop art or pop culture. So if that is the effect you're after by all means go for it.
   BTW, the stuff with the wide growth rings is even more obnoxious.

1. 
   9619 | Nov 29, 2008 03:52pm | #16

   Ted,
   I work at a Woodcraft store part time. We just got a load of Zebrawood. I had never heard of it so I took a close look. I suppose it is interesting looking. BUT when I look at a beautiful curly maple or birdseye maple, or higly figured walnut, I get excited. When I looked at the zebrawood, I just saw some wood that I might use in a decorative place once in a while, but not for a piece of furniture.MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.