Description

Most woodworkers avoid zebrawood for a number of good reasons: you should not breath dust from sanding, the wood is very hard and requires sharp tools, and very often has wormholes that continue through the grain which will not work for cutting boards.  The edge grain alternates between light and dark wood, giving it stripes, hence the name.  However, the intricate designs of the end grain can be hypnotically beautiful, and it’s worth all the effort!  When I find stock that looks like it might not have wormholes, I get it to make a couple of cutting boards.

This end grain zebrawood board has a grain pattern that reminiscent of gothic arches, very simple and elegant.  It is finished with hot beeswax with a small amount of mineral oil added, and then is buffed smooth, which captures a golden tone in the smooth surface.  The beeswax and  mineral oil are tasteless and non-toxic.  Mineral oil alone is fine for many types of wood, but tends to darken zebrawood more than I like.

This board has “handles” built in all around, like all my cutting boards.  It will stand on it’s side or ends, which makes it easier to store and helps it to dry after being cleaned, and both surfaces can be used for cutting.