Teak
Description
A dense tropical hardwood obtained from the Tectona grandis tree native to the southeast Asia has structural properties better than oak. Teak is a tall (up to 40 m) deciduous trees with diaeters up to 3m that have small fragrant, white flowers. Of distinction, are the huge papery leaves of the teak trees (up to 45 x 23 cm) with a hairy lower surface. Teak wood has a straight grain and coarse texture that is very resistant to insects and decay. It is used for high quality furniture, veneer, boxes, chests, doors, and shipbuilding. Teak wood also has an aromatic smell when cut that it can retain for over a hundred years. With age, the yellosish heartwood darkens with age.
Synonyms and Related Terms
common teak (Tectona grandis); Dahat teak (Tectona hamiltoniana); Philippine Teak (Tectona philippinensis); Burmese teak; Nagpur teak; tekka; teck (Fr., It.); Tiekholz (Deut;); teakboom (Ned.); teca (Esp., Port.); teak(Sven.); jati
Personal Risks
Skin contact, especially with sap, may cause irritation. Sanding dust may also cause an allergic reaction.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Teak has a high oil content that is extremely resistant to decay. Density = 35-55 ppcf
Working Properties
Teak is weather-resistant. High levels of silica in the wood facilitate planing and jointing, but may dull blades and cause irregularities in finishing. Carbide blades are recommended. Epoxy and resorcinol adhesives work best when joining teak. The wood does not stain well and will not accept emulsion based sealants, such as polyurethane. Without a finish, outdoor wood will weather to a gray color.
Additional Images
Teak Tectona grandis
Teak (Tectona grandis)
Resources and Citations
- Wood Magazine: https://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/lumber/wood-species-3/teak
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teak (Accessed Sept. 28, 2005 and April 2020)
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 803
- F. H. Titmuss, Commercial Timbers of the World, The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965 Comment: 35-50 ppcf
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "teak (genus Tectona grandis)" [Accessed 28 Sept. 2005].
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: density=41-55 ppcf (0.66-0.88 g/cm3)