Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Oct 03, 2010 05:10pm | #1

   Oily Teak

   The oily nature of teak can be a problem gluing, but there are special techniques that will make your glue-up successful.  Just before you glue up, apply an alcohol like methyl hydrate to the joint.  When it flashes off, it will leave behind a non-oily surface.  Then glue as normal.  Alternatively, certain glues are supposed to be okay on oily woods.  Don't quote me on this, but I think that Titebond III, epoxy, and polyurethane are okay on oily woods.  I'd play it safe and use the alcohol treatment.

2. 
   jfsksa | Oct 04, 2010 08:22am | #2

   glueing teak

   I have glued teak and made strong joints.  I made a counter top with Africa teak, 1.5" thick, approx 55" X 36" and used Gorilla glue (yellow, not the polyeurathane) for the butt joints.  I did not use any cleaner, just glued them immediately after final jointing.  While sanding a curve on one end on a stand mounted belt sander, I managed to drop the counter top. (In my defense, it was pretty heavy and awkward to hold.)  I've always heard that glued joints are stronger than the wood and in this case nothing split and I only had a small dent in one edge. 

   If you are nervous about glueing the teak to maple, glue two scraps together, put one side in a vise and whack it with a hammer (this scientific test came from the Knots community, not me).  My guess is the wood will break, not the joint.

1. 
   acornw | Oct 04, 2010 03:57pm | #4

   There Is Teak And Then There Is teak

   Teak, real teak is ' tectona grandis'.   'African Teak' is a commercial name for something that is African, but not teak.   Iroko is a common name for the wood  'milicia excelsa'  that is most often sold as African Teak. There are also a few species sold as 'Brazilian Teak'  that are not teak either.

   The name teak is appended to a slightly simliar wood to impart value to a lesser-known species, just as mahogany is attached to shoreas, khaya, utile and many other species to enhance what is being passed off as mahogany.

   Oftent the similarity is appearance, and hopefully (for the seller) price.  The qualities that make Teak such a fantastic wood are not in Iroko or other imitations.

   Why this is common in the Wild-West world of  imported woods, I do not know.  Imagine ordering a Porterhouse and getting something cut from a dead horse.

1. 
   jfsksa | Oct 06, 2010 03:01am | #5

   Thanks for the info.  I found pics of Iroko online and that is what I used.  I thought my "Africa Teak" really came from a teak tree grown in Africa.  I mean wine barrels are made from American Oak, others from French Oak...it's still oak, right?  Now I know to do a bit more research when buying wood.  We can buy Burma Teak here in the Middle East, it just costs 4X what the Iroko costs.

1. 
   acornw | Oct 06, 2010 12:31pm | #6

   Teak Plantations

   When the British ruled their world via their ships/Navy, they were smart enough to plant Teak in other locations outside their native range in S E Asia.  So, there are plantations of Teak in the Phillpines, Indonesia, and a few other locations. These do produce commercial quantities of Teak with the desirable qualities.  I'm not aware of any in Africa, but it is a big world.  Typically, African Teak means two things: it is not Teak and it is African.

   As for Oak being Oak, it ain't.  In the US, 'oak' is sold as lumber in two groups - Red and White.  Each group has a number of species in it.  The botanical Black Oak when sold as lumber is White Oak.  White Oak lumber is more than one botanical species, the same with Red Oak.

   White Oak is used in wet coopperage (barrels) since the tyloses have solidified and prevent seepage. Red Oak has open tyloses and one can actually blow bubbles through a 12'" length of wood with one end immersed in water. Not suitable for wet cooperage.

   French Oak wine barrels are more expensive than American White Oak barrels due to availability. There is also the consideration that French Oak is a better species for wine from a historical perspective. Of course, whisky gets a good bit of its flavor from Oak barrels - American, Scotch, or otherwise.  Quite a large subject when one looks into it.

   At one time in history, most everyone knew wood species and applications. Not only  the species, but how grain orientation affected service and many other nuances.  Today, any light wood is marketed as Maple, any red wood as Mahogany, and no one seems to know or care that all this pertinent knowledge is being lost.

3. 
   would_block | Oct 04, 2010 12:04pm | #3

   Gluing Teak and Maple

   Good ideas - I couldn't find anything here on the FWW website that talks about the issue so thanks! Gluing a sample will also allow testing of finishes.

   WM

1. 
   TonyCz | Oct 09, 2010 11:01pm | #7

   30 year old teak Pluss ++++

   I just bought a boat load of teak at an estate sale and will be picking it up on Wed. next week. Price per B.F. in the rough will be $17.00 per BF. in 4/4 boards very from 6' long to 8' long and 6 to 8" wide. milled price $24.00 per board foot s3s.  its located in Southern Calif.