Suggested wood to pair with Zebrawood

[GreenGA]

I have been "commissioned" to make a wine rack. Zebrawood was selected as the primary material. Since Zebrawood can get overwhelming real fast, I suggested that another type of wood be selected to tone down the affect of the Zebrawood.  Would anyone who has worked with Zebrawood have any suggestions? I do not know if something lighter or darker in color would work best.

Speaking of Zebrawood, I have never worked with Zebrawoood before, how difficult is it to work?

Thanks.

 

[nclemmons]

I might explore walnut or maple, evey birdseye depending on the design of the piece you are doing.  Even a ebonized ash might offer an interesting contrast.

Do you have a drawing of the wine rack?  If you have sketch up, you can mock it up and then find images of the veneers online and apply them to the faces to explore alternatives and what is too much contrast.

I think the grain might cause you some problems if you are planing it.  Might have to experiment and may have to resort to lots of sanding if you have a thickness sander as an alternative.

here's soem info on it that might be of use: 

http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/zebrawood/

neil

 

[Vi_k]

California Redwood.

 

[Kev]

Consider the rest of the setting and whether you want to bring attention to the Zebra wood.

I've never worked with it ... something I really don't like about it is that it reminds me of a pattern that was common to laminex table tops locally in the 60's, 70's round here.

Distinct grains can be a real challenge if you're making something that may be "mostly frame" ... consider mocking up an example and showing what it would look like ... I don't know how clever you client is, but there's a chance they may not like the manifestation of their choices!

 

[flair woodworks]

How about leoppard wood or snakewood?   Zebrawood (zebrano) is so distinct that it would go with almost anything, from holly or ebony to rosewood.

I've turned zebrano and it works fine.  It seems to be a tad more splintery and softer than other exotics (but not as splintery as purpleheart).  I don't think you should have any issues working with it.

 

[junk731]

I would consider pairing it with Wenge. You are using a wood with a bold contrast. The darkness of the Wenge, IMHO would enhance this contrast.

John

 

[waynelang2001]

I would consider pairing it with Wenge. You are using a wood with a bold contrast. The darkness of the Wenge, IMHO would enhance this contrast.

John

I agree...

 

[mouppe]

Not birdseye maple for sure. My wife tells me spots and stripes are a terrible combination.

[big grin]

 

[peter halle]

The finishing requirements for Wenge would also be similar to zebrawood.

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

.......It seems to be a tad more splintery and softer than other exotics (but not as splintery as purpleheart).  I don't think you should have any issues working with it.

My, admittedly limited, experience with zebrawood is that it can be difficult to run it through the planer without chipping.  Some pieces weren't too bad, others were nearly trashed.  If you run into trouble a drum sander to get the final thickness would be best, if possible.   

 

[Tinker]

I have done only one small project (set of bookends) using Zebra wood.  I had a heck of a job running it thru my DW planer. no matter how fine I adjusted the planing steps, (1/4 turn at strart but going down to 1/8 turn.) I pulled out tiny chips from the grain.
I finally finished the facing with a hand plane (Smoother with 40º beveled edge and super sharpened ... Super for me  [unsure]) and RO 150 from Granat 40 on thru several steps to Crystal 150.  Finished with 220 on my LS 130.  It turned out to be slow work on the planing part, but I don't do much of that and the MFT needed some bracing to steady it. i have done hand planing on the MFT's in the past, but with the Zebra wood, i wanted as much stability as possible so i could "feel" my way along.

I still have a very small piece of the Z-wood, but have not thought of a place to use it.
Tinker

 

[Vi_k]

Zebrawood has always kind of reminded me of Timber-strand, the wood product I used to turn this:

Proper wine folks, I mean real proper Wine folks are very particular with their material choices for their wine rack system. Care must be taken when choosing woods because of the off-gassing affecting the wines over time. California Redwood is one of the best choices.

Dead serious,

Vi_k

p.s. If you need some Zebrawood counter tops let me know, I have a 5½' and an 7½' hanging out in my laundry room.

 

[flair woodworks]

Brice and Tinker,

Out of curiosity, what type of cutterhead were you using in the planer?

 

[tiralie]

Zebrawood has always kind of reminded me of Timber-strand, the wood product I used to turn this:

Vi_k:
What is that?

 

[Brice Burrell]

Brice and Tinker,

Out of curiosity, what type of cutterhead were you using in the planer?

Chris, I used a straight HSS blade, it was sharp.

 

[jacko9]

I would consider Port Oxford Cedar a straight grain wood that would compliment the Zebrawood without being too much of a contrast.  If you want it to be a darker wood, try straight grained Mahogany (not ribbon mahogany).  

I did a chest of drawers out of Black Walnut as the drawer fronts, top and panels and Hard Maple for the legs and blades, rails and stiles.

Jack

 

[Tinker]

Brice and Tinker,

Out of curiosity, what type of cutterhead were you using in the planer?

I have the straight blade cutterhead. 
I don't really know how sharp the blade is; but it still does a good job on Maple and Oak.
I take very thin cuts on everything I plane.
Tinker

 

[GreenGA]

Consolidated response...

The types of wood so far recommended:

• 
  Walnut
  Maybe Maple
  Ebonized Ash
  California Redwood
  Holly
  Port Oxford Cedar
  Rosewood (the dealer had some beautiful Bolivian Rosewood)
  Ebony
  Wenge (it was of interest)

Any opinions of Mahogany?  I ask because the dealer had a beautiful piece of African Mahogany that I think could be sliced and used as book matched pieces, if there is enough material.

The dealer also had some very nice 8/4 Wenge.

Say, what about Padouk? .  The dealer has a piece that I have had my eye on for over a year.  Talk about Red....  Even color blind eyes can see that it is red.  Almost orange in fact.

I too have the DW735, the knives are still very sharp and the other sides have never been used.  I am not much of a hand-tool person so I hope the DeWalt works well.  [embarassed]

There is no detailed plan at the moment.  I will put something together with Sketch-up as soon as I can.  Some racks were found "out there" and one of those may work well, or a variation.  At the moment, the rack must/should contain space for 24-30 bottles, a drawer for for the odds-n-ends, a hanging rack for glasses and, perhaps, a display top in case there is something of interest to display.

The house in which it will be used has a formal decorating style.  Plenty of elegant wallpaper, wainscotting throughout (even up the stairs and around the 2nd floor landing), high/solid baseboards, very nice crown, Bolivian rosewood hardwood floors. appropriately-sized door and window trim.

One last thing.  Cost is no object,  Within reason of course.  [tongue]

 

[Brice Burrell]

I have one suggestion, I few years ago I did my zebrawood project with riff sawn white oak.  I don't have any pictures of the project but I do have a some from my MFS tutorial to give you a rough idea of what I did.  I used the oak as the main material and the zebrawood as an inlay.  

[attachthumb=#]  

 

[GreenGA]

Thanks for that posting Brice...

Very interesting combination.  I kinda like it.