PLANTATION TEAK: A
This production does not have the density and variety of colour found in forest grown stock but does have the same properties. The sample illustrated is forest grown whereas the plantation grown timber is faster grown with more knot defects evident.

Production: S/E, DIM.

Tectona grandis
Family: Verbenaceae

Distribution: Indigenous to Burma and India and S.E Asia. Introduced into East and West Africa and the Caribbean and Indonesia and now available in plantation grown timber.

General Description: The true Teak of Burma is a medium golden brown colour without markings, but most other teak is rich brown with darker chocolate-brown markings. Indian Teak is wavy grained and mottled but generally straight to wavy grained, coarse textured, uneven, oily to the touch and sometimes with a white glistening deposit. Weight varies from 610-690kg/m3 (38-43lb/ft3), average 650kg/m3 (40lb/ft3); specific gravity .65.

Mechanical Properties: This hard, medium density wood has medium bending strength, high crushing strength combined with low stiffness and resistance to shock loads. It is fissile and brittle with great dimensional stability; it is fire and acid resistant. Teak can be steam bent to a moderate radius of curvature.

Seasoning: Dries well but rather slowly. Variations in drying rates can ocur in individual pieces. Standing trees are girdled and left to dry out for three years before felling. There is small movement in service.

Working Properties: Teak offers medium resistance to tools but a severe blunting effect on cutters. Tungsten carbide tipped saws are suitable. Pre-boring is necessary for nailing. Gluing is good on freshly planed or sanded surfaces. Fine machine dust is skin irritant. Stains well and takes a satisfactory finish, especially an oil finish.

Durability: Very durable; liable to insect attack. It is extremely resistant to preservation treatment.

Uses: Extensively used for ship and boat building for decking, rails, hatches etc. Furniture and cabinet making, interior and exterior joinery, flooring, exterior structural work and garden furniture. Also for acid resistant purposes such as chemical vats, fume ducts and laboratory benches. All grades of plywood and sliced for decorative and face veneers.

JBT Comments: Due to the present military dictatorship in Burma, John Boddy Timber no longer imports from this country. We can however obtain supplies of plantation grown Teak from various other countries, Unfortunately the quality, specification and growth of plantation grown timber is inferior to the forest grown stock. However, it still has the same properties and with thought and care in application can be used for similar work.

Grade: FAS and other.

Specification: Many different specifications selected to cover different applications.

Stockholding: Limited stocks available with most specifications available to order 3-4 weeks. All thicknesses and widths available.