Spotlight On: Teak
Tectona grandis
SPECIES: Tectona grandis
ORIGIN: Native to Southern Asia. Also widely grown on plantations throughout tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America.
COMMON APPLICATIONS: Ship and boatbuilding, veneer, furniture, flooring, cabinets, exterior construction, carving, turnings, and small wood objects.
CHARACTERISTICS / APPEARANCE: Heartwood is golden to medium brown, the color darkening with age. Grain is straight or occasionally wavy or interlocked. Teak has a coarse, uneven texture and moderate to low natural luster. Raw, unfinished wood surfaces have a slightly oily or greasy feel due to natural oils that protect the wood from insects and rot.
JANKA HARDNESS SCALE: 1,070 lb_f (see chart on page 57)
COMMENTS: Teak is one of the most desirable woods in the world because of its superb stability, strength, and outstanding resistance to decay and rot. It is generally easy to work with, although its high silica content has a blunting effect on cutting edges. Despite its natural oils, Teak glues and finishes well, though prepping with solvent prior to gluing/finishing is sometimes necessary.
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"The future of Teak lies in the technology driving today's world," he said. "Ongoing research in fields like 3D printing will encourage a different perspective on Teakwood and its veneers, and we can expect to see more and more innovative uses for it, particularly in the inter disciplinary fields of product design, furniture design, lighting, lifestyle products, and landscape design. For sure, Teak will continue to inspire designers to innovate and explore the endless possibilities."
Frequently asked questions
Why does Teak's high silica content matter when working the wood?+
Teak's high silica content has a blunting effect on cutting edges, even though the wood is generally easy to work with.
Does Teak's natural oiliness interfere with gluing and finishing?+
Despite its natural oils, Teak glues and finishes well, though prepping the surface with solvent prior to gluing or finishing is sometimes necessary.
What gives raw Teak its slightly oily or greasy feel?+
Unfinished Teak surfaces feel slightly oily or greasy due to natural oils in the wood, which help protect it from insects and rot.
What is Teak's Janka hardness rating?+
Teak has a Janka hardness rating of 1,070 lb_f.
How might emerging technology shape the future of Teak according to the article?+
Ongoing research in fields like 3D printing is expected to encourage new perspectives on Teakwood and its veneers, leading to innovative uses in product design, furniture design, lighting, lifestyle products, and landscape design.
Besides its native Southern Asia, where is Teak grown today?+
Teak is widely grown on plantations throughout tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.