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Teak
(Tectona Grandis)
38-43 lbs/cubic foot
Heartwood Teak is almost
always a uniform golden brown without markings. Variation is
moderate, and the grain pattern is typically straight, but
sometimes will exhibit a wavy pattern. The texture of teak is
coarse and is very oily, giving it its excellent waterproof
properties.ies.
Tectona Grandis is a highly
durable, hard timber with superb acid, fire, and decay
resistance. Teak is also resistant to termites due to its
resinous oils acting as a natural insect repellant. This lumber
is highly resistant to chemical impregnation, although its
resistance to decay makes preservatives unnecessary.
Furthermore, the Dimensional stability of this lumber is
excellent, as it retains its shape very well after seasoning. As
well, this timber responds moderately to steam bending.
Teak is a very dense, heavy
timber with a high compression strength parallel to the grain.
This lumber exhibits a severe blunting effect on cutting tools,
making it necessary to constantly maintain the sharpness of
blades. This effect is caused in part by the silica content of
teak which has been reported at about 1%. Tungsten
carbide-tipped cutters are highly recommended. This material can
be easily turned, moulded, bored, mortised, and carved aside
from the fact that the blades dull quickly. For planing of teak
wood the cutting angle should be reduced to 20 degrees. Gluing
of freshly planed or sanded surfaces is easy and nails and
screws hold very well, although pre-drilling is highly
recommended. The wood takes polish, stain, and paint well,
however it may be necessary to remove surface resins with a
compatible solvent in order to guarantee good adhesion.
Fine Teak sawdust has been
known to cause skin irritation in select individuals. |