An ignorant person who hears the word “zebra” will associate it with the word “zebra” due to the alternation of white and black stripes. And it is right!
The specialist knows that under the name of the plant of the genus Microberlinia of the Caesalpiniaceae family, there is a zebrawood tree, the structure of the wood of which resembles the color of the African equid. In different regions it is called differently: mouk, allen ele, izingana, enuk-enug.
Physical properties of zebrawood wood
Its density is about 700 kg/m3. In its dry form. It has a curl that makes it difficult to process. Zebrawood wood is classified as a soundwood species. The kernel is pale, with a slight yellowish tint. The heartwood has narrow stripes or spots, black or dark brown, clearly separated from the sapwood. The sapwood is light, almost white.
Wood is very resistant to external influences. Mold does not appear on it, it is not subject to rotting, and resists various types of pests. Due to its high hardness.
Photo Pinterest.ru
Notes
- ↑ 1234
[www.parketgrup.ru/spec60.htm Zebrano - Wood Catalog] // Parketgrup.ru - Information from [www.4living.ru/guide/termini/zebrano/ directory of interior ideas 4living.ru]
- [l-parket.com.ua/index.php/massiv-parket.html Descriptions of wood species] // l-parket.com.ua
- [www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/30441/0 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]
Drying wood
When dried, wood is prone to cracking. Therefore, it requires slow drying, at a temperature of no more than 50 degrees. Before drying, radial cuts are made on the surface of the log. To reduce the likelihood of cracking and warping. During drying of wood.
But the wood is very durable and resistant to wear. It lends itself well to mechanical and chemical processing. Excellent polishing, grinding, varnishing and painting.
Lumber
Data from the CIRAD database
Countries of origin. Gabon, Cameroon, Congo (Brazzaville).
Description of logs
| Diameter, cm | 60—100 |
| Sapwood thickness, cm | 6—10 |
| Buoyancy | No |
| Safety in the forest | medium (treatment recommended) |
Description of wood
| Color | light brown |
| Sapwood | clearly expressed |
| Texture | rough |
| Fibrous | confused |
| Intertwined fibers | slightly |
Note.
The wood is yellow-brown to light brown, with dark brown veining. Sometimes high fiber tangle. Physical properties
| Average | Delta | |
| Density, g/cm³ | 0,79 | 0,03 |
| Monnin hardness¹ | 5,0 | 0,9 |
| Volumetric shrinkage coefficient, % | 0,56 | 0,07 |
| Total tangential shrinkage, % | 11,0 | — |
| Total radial shrinkage, % | 8,8 | — |
| Fiber saturation point, % | 30 | — |
| Sustainability | moderately stable | |
Mechanical properties
| Average | Delta | |
| Ultimate compressive strength¹, MPa | 62 | 11 |
| Bending strength (4 points)¹, MPa | 110 | 37 |
| Longitudinal modulus of elasticity (4 points)¹, MPa | 17520 | — |
¹ at 12% humidity;
1 MPa = 1 N/mm² Physical and mechanical properties based on mature heartwood samples. These properties can vary greatly depending on origin and growth conditions. Natural durability and permeability
| Class | Description | |
| Fungi | 3 | moderately persistent |
| Woodworms | sustainable | sapwood expressed (risk limited to sapwood) |
| Termites | M | moderately persistent |
| Permeability | 3 | poorly permeable |
| Biohazard class | 2 | not in contact with the ground, under a roof (dampness is acceptable) |
Note.
Biohazard class provided by natural resistance (according to EN standards). Resistance to fungi and termites is given for finished products in temperate climates. Except for special comments for sapwood, natural durability is given for mature heartwood. Sapwood should always be considered as not resistant to destructive factors. Local names by country
| A country | Local name |
| Great Britain | zebrano, zebrawood |
| Gabon | zingana |
| Germany | zebrano |
| Cameroon | allen ele |
The need for protective treatment
| Against grinders | does not require any preservative treatment |
| In case of risk of temporary wetting | requires appropriate protective treatment |
| In case of risk of constant wetting | use is not recommended |
Drying
| Drying speed | slow |
| Risk of warping | high |
| Risk of cementation | No |
| Risk of hairline cracks | high |
| Risk of destructive cracks | No |
Possible drying modes
| Humidity, % | Drying temperature, °C | Air humidity, % | |
| dry | steam | ||
| 30 | 42 | 41 | 94 |
| 25 | 42 | 39 | 82 |
| 20 | 48 | 43 | 74 |
| 15 | 48 | 43 | 74 |
These modes are given as an example only and for thicknesses not exceeding 38 mm. They must be applied in accordance with accepted practice. For thicknesses from 38 to 75 mm, the relative humidity should be increased by 5% at each step. For thicknesses over 75 mm, the increase should be 10%.
Note.
Lumber should be properly bagged and dried slowly. To reduce warping, radial cutting is preferred. Sawing and processing
| Dull cutting edges | fine |
| Recommended saws | plain or alloy steel |
| Cutting edges | with tungsten carbide |
| Peeling | Not recommended |
| Planing | Fine |
Note.
Risk of scuffing due to high fiber tangles. Assembly
| Nails, screws | good, but requires pre-drilling |
| Gluing | normal |
Note. Some tendency to crack from nails/screws. Gluing must be done carefully as the wood contains acids.
Use of zebrawood wood
This exotic and beautiful wood is used in the manufacture of veneer, plywood, marquetry, turning products, flooring, skis, instrument handles, bodies of some musical instruments and other products. Previously, this striped wood was used for interior decoration of luxury cars.
Zebrawood knife handle. Photo source Artwood.ru
To reduce the consumption of such a valuable type of wood as zebrawood, sliced veneer is made from it. Which is used for cladding various wooden products.
Solid zebrawood is practically not used anywhere due to its high cost. And rarities. But, by the way, veneer perfectly reflects the beauty and sophistication of the zebrawood wood pattern.
Story
Zebrawood was first recorded in British Customs returns in 1773, when 180 zebrawoods were imported from the country. Mosquito Coast, British colony (now the Republic of Honduras and Nicaragua).[1] In his History of Jamaica
(1774), Edward Long relates: “The zebra wood, now held in high esteem by cabinetmakers, was brought to Jamaica from the Mosquito Coast;
it is of fine shade and richly veined...[2] Thereafter the Mosquito Coast regularly exported zebrawood until the Convention of London (1786) and the subsequent expulsion of British settlers from this part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Zebrawood table
An alternative name found in 18th century British sources is palmaletto.
or
palmalatta
, from
Palo mulatto
- the local name for the forest.
In the early 19th century, another source of zebrawood was discovered in Brazil. This species, Astronium fraxinifolium
, is native to northern South America, especially northeastern Brazil. It is now traded as Goncalo Alves, the Portuguese name used in Brazil. However, it was still called zebrawood in the European and American markets and was widely used in British furniture production from about 1810 to 1860.
For most of the 19th century, the botanical identity of the zebrawort was unknown. For many years it was believed that it was a product of Omphalobium lamberti
DC., later reclassified as
Connarus guianensis
Lamb ex DC., and finally as
Connarus lamberti
(DC.) Britton.
Despite the similarities between Connarus
and
Astronium
, the former have not yet been discovered on surviving furniture.
"Published statements that certain species [from Konnarus
] supply furniture wood are undoubtedly incorrect."[3]
In the 20th century the name zebrawood applied to Astronium
species have fallen into disuse.
The word now usually refers to the wood of an entirely different African tree. Microberlinia brazzavillensis
, but can be applied to other woods, mainly belonging to the same family Fabaceae, but not only so, for example:
Brachystegia spinosa
Goncalo alves.
How to properly use zebrawood in the interior
Photo: buazeri.com
There is no point in overloading the interior with zebra stripes. This will greatly spoil the chic that you want to convey with the texture and zebrano pattern. With this type of wood, it is worth using textures and shades that are not similar in shade and are of the same color.
Photo aquatun.ru
For example, with dark zebrawood, you can safely use it with panels of plain, light wood. Frosted glass and metal surfaces will look good. Plain, bright, plastic surfaces.
The main rule is that what surrounds the zebra pattern should be concise, monochromatic and simple.
The video shows the zebrawood processing process
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Description
The habitat of zebrawood is the countries located near the equator, in western Africa. A rare representative of the flora is found in Gabon, Cameroon and the states of the Congo (Republic and Democratic Republic).
A mature tree reaches the height of a 12-story building (40 meters). The thickness of the trunk at the base ranges from 1 to 1.5 meters. With its structure, zebrawood resembles pine trees grown in dense forests. The branches in the lower part die off, but a branched dense crown forms at the top. Trees do not grow in groups. On average, on an area of sq. km. only 1 representative of this family grows.
▍Siberian cedar, more precisely, cedar pine.
Pine family.
Density 484. The specimen of wood that came to me is just skinny pine, which has very little resin and, accordingly, a lot of wood. It is from skinny pine that the soundboards of guitars and other acoustic instruments can be made. In the middle of the last century, Leo Fender made the soundboards of the first prototypes of Esquires and Broadcasters, which later became Telecasters, from pine. And to this day, Fender has various models with pine bodies. Not Siberian, but musical, skinny, close in character to this example.
The spectrogram of cedar pine is generally similar to linden, only the dip at 2 kHz is slightly less pronounced. But there is an alder block at 1 kHz.
▍Baked ash, or thermo-ash
Density 644.
When treated with hot steam, the sugars contained in the wood are caramelized, the wood acquires a beautiful chocolate color. This denatured wood becomes lighter and more stable.
Heat treatment gives ash a sharp linden peak at 300 Hz and a slightly more pronounced alder peak. The spectrogram becomes very similar to linden, only without the dip at 2 kHz, and the decay in the high region is smoother.
▍Zebrano, zebrawood or zingana
Legume family.
Density 635. grows in Africa. The wood is very popular for electric and acoustic guitars. No wonder: the wood is very beautiful and at the same time durable; even skis are made from it.
Zebrano has a flat linden peak, then a gradually falling plateau.
Baked ash
should be next in order of increasing density, but let's put it aside for now and consider it in comparison with ordinary ash.
