Replies

1. 
   StanleyNiemiec | Dec 18, 2002 05:55am | #1

   Estimate the value of the teak.

   Then estimate the cost of resharpening.

   If the value of the teak exceeds the cost of resharpening then you are ahead of the game and it is worthwhile.

   Plus if you are dealing with small runs with carbide tooling, it will not make that great of a difference.

   I have machined teak with HSS shaper cutters and have watched the sparks come off the cutters from the included silica.

1. 
   KraigY | Dec 18, 2002 06:17am | #2

   Ouch! Sparks off the tooling doesn't sound good at all. I guess it is as bad as I have read. The value of the teak is not that great really and the milling would be minimal in all respects. I am looking at it more as a chance to work a different species and play around with finishes. Maybe this would be a good opportunity to get serious with the hand tools and build my sharpening skills.

   Thanks a million for the input-

   Doc-

1. 
   StanleyNiemiec | Dec 18, 2002 06:29am | #3

   Sparks like occasional ones not like sparks off a metal grinder.

   Try it  --  its the only way you are going to learn.

2. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 18, 2002 06:33am | #4

   You think that's bad, try IPE!

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy
   PlaneWood

1. 
   KraigY | Dec 18, 2002 06:34pm | #5

   Thanks but no thanks.  I seriously considered it at one point based on an article that I read (Arno?)and went as far as trying to track some down.  Then I read the posts on this forum about the smell and other poor behaviors of the wood and thats where I left it. 

   Thanks again to all for the comments.

   Doc in Carlsbad

1. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 19, 2002 07:22pm | #11

   Doc -

   U in Carlsbad NM, or Carlsbad CA??

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood

1. 
   KraigY | Dec 19, 2002 10:12pm | #13

   Hey Planewood-

   I am a recent transplant from the Great Northwest to sunny SoCal.  Completely forgot that there is a Carlsbad in NM-  No offense to our southwest neighbors intended of course.

   BTW, I have checked out your website-simply beautiful handles and knobs.  I have recently started collecting old handplanes after my Grandfathers #8 made it in to my shop after many, many years of benign neglect. I recently fixed up an old Bailey #4 that I picked up at an antique show.  It is great fun and really satisfying to see a once beautiful tool reemerge from layers of rust and dust.

   Thanks for inquiring- 

   Doc in Carlsbad CA

1. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 20, 2002 12:55am | #14

   Doc -

   I been ordering my Cocobolo from a place in Carlsbad CA.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood

2. 
   KraigY | Dec 20, 2002 01:32am | #15

   Ahh, I know the place you speak of very well.  It is about 5 minutes from where I work and I have spent more than few lunch "hours" there admiring the wood.  Some of the slabs they have are quite humbling.

   Doc-inCCA

3. 
   DWRead | Dec 20, 2002 02:09am | #16

   Carlsbad is only 37 miles from where I live (Laguna Niguel). What is this place that sells exotic woods?

   Janet

4. 
   KraigY | Dec 20, 2002 03:16am | #18

   Hi there-

   The place I am talking about is Tropical Exotic Hardwoods of Latin America you can check out their website at http://www.anexotichardwood.com/

   Definitely worth the drive from Laguna Niguel if you are in the market for some rare woods.  They have planks as well as turning stock.

   Doc-iCCA

5. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 20, 2002 04:31am | #19

   Yeah, their Mexican Cocobolo is outstanding.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood

2. 
   bill_1010 | Dec 18, 2002 06:52pm | #6

   Bois d'arc aka osage orange aka hedge wood not only hard but the pitch can be mistaken for Titebond II

3. 
   HowardAcheson | Dec 18, 2002 09:55pm | #7

   In the shop I was involved with we did some contract work for a yacht building firm. Cut and milled lots of teak. With carbide tooling, we did not find lots of tool dulling. Some HSS steel items did need more frequent sharpening but it was nothing excessive. Teak is nice to work with.

1. 
   DWRead | Dec 18, 2002 10:05pm | #8

   Why is teak used so much in boats?

1. 
   Elcoholic | Dec 18, 2002 11:10pm | #9

   Doc - not a good choice for "playing around with finishes", many (me included) believe that Teak is best left unfinished or oiled.

   DW - It's water and rot resistant, handles shock and impact well and when used on decks maintains good footing when wet - it's the perfect boat wood.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

1. 
   KraigY | Dec 19, 2002 06:33pm | #10

   Elcoholic-   Thanks for the finishing advice and the info on teak.  Oil finishes are my hands down favorite anyway.  Oh, and The Duke quote is awesome!

2. 
   HowardAcheson | Dec 19, 2002 08:14pm | #12

   Originally, it was used for the hulls of war ships because it has a natural resistance to sea critters that bored into the underwater portions of hulls. It is was also a highly rot resistant wood in a salt water environment. It is also very strong. When used on decks is was a natural non-skid. The decks were cleaned by using holy stones rubbed on the deck with saltwater as a cleaner/lubricant. Teaks availability in SE Asia was one of the reasons England exerted power in the area.

   After the development of the iron and steel ships, teak was used for the decks because it is naturally skid resistant if left unfinished. For example, it was used on the decks of WWII navy ships for non-skid and aircraft carrier decks were made from teak.

   In modern days, teak is still used for pleasure boat decks but it is also used for it decorative appearance. It's a nice looking wood if it is maintained and, to many, it is considered a nautical wood.

1. 
   DWRead | Dec 20, 2002 02:24am | #17

   I didn't know that teak was grown in Asia! I've always associated Scandinavia with teak furniture and sea-faring, and just assumed that teak grew there. Live and learn.

   Janet

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Dec 20, 2002 07:10pm | #20

   Teak is origially from SE Asia primarily Burma and Malaysia. But there now some grown on plantations in Central America. In SE Asia elephants do almost all the moving and loading of the wood.