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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Plantation species? Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Tectona grandis Trade Name Teak Family Name Verbenaceae Synonyms Tectona theka Common Names Burma teak, Deleg, Djati, Djatos, Dodolan, Genuine teak, Gia thi, Giati, Jate, Jati, Jati sak, Jatih, Jatos, Java teak, Kaiti, Kulidawa, Kyoon-pen, Kyun, Mai sak, Maisak, Moulimein teak, Pahi, Rangoon teak, Rosawa, Sagon, Sagwan, Tadi, Teak, Teca, Teck, Tegina, Tekku, Thekku, Thukku, Tik, Tsik Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Burma, Cameroon, Congo, Fiji, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Balusters, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical containers, Chests, Clogs, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lock gates, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Novelties, Oars, Paneling , Paneling, Piling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Sills, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels, Windows Environmental Profile Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Teak is indigenous to India, Burma, Thailand, Indochina and Java, but it has been extensively planted for timber or as an ornamental within its natural range and throughout the tropical regions of the world, including East and West Africa, the West Indies, from Cuba and Jamaica to Trinidad, and from Panama to Brazil. It is also grown in southern Florida. The species has also been cultivated experimentally or at low elevations in Puerto Rico. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Black Green/grey Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Dark brown Greenish to greyish Black Darkens after prolonged exposure The heartwood in its purest form, is a uniform dark golden-brown, without markings. But most other heartwood found in this species is dark golden yellow, which turns into rich brown with darker, chocolate-brown markings upon exposure. There is moderate to high color variation between boards Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Figure Straight Growth rings (figure) Distinct (figure) Interlocked Variable (figure) Closed Even Mottled (figure) Stripe (figure) Wavy Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Distinct figure Variable figure Interlocked Striped figure Occasionally wavy Mottled figure Figure shows rays Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Fine Medium Uneven Fine to medium The wood is somewhat greasy and may contain white shiny deposits. Luster Medium Dull Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Yellowish deposits in vessels Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Perishable Durable Moderately durable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from marine borers Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Moderately durable Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Odor No specific taste Has a leather-like odor when freshly milled Silica Content Slight Moderate silica contact Light-Induced Color Change Darker Corrosive Properties Non-corrosive Toxicity Some toxic effects Dermatitic effects Unspecified toxicity Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Drying Defects Splitting Slight end splitting No twisting or warping No surface checking No end splitting No cupping, generally Generally free from spring and bow No collapse/honeycomb Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Bark width is 5-10 mm Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Plantation trees are reported to grow to heights of 150 feet (45 m), and can be ready for harvesting after only 60 years. Teak logs are very heavy, and are rather difficult to transport. Standing trees are sometimes girdled and left to stand for two to eight years before they are harvested. This practice is reported to allow moisture in the tree to dissipate, and hence make the logs less heavy and easier to transport Product Sources Although it is higher in price than most other imports, Teak is available in veneer and lumber forms. Its consumption on the United States market is rather tiny compared to other domestic hardwoods. The wood is offered as an expensive option by many US shipbuilders, with most imports originating from Burma, which is the source of Teak with superior and the most desirable qualities. Good quality teak is difficult to acquire, and imports are usually in transit for about two months. Although US importers usually have some in stock, orders for the timber are slow to fill and can take up to a year. Substitutes Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata), Kindal (Terminalia paniculata), Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa , C. regia), Freijo (Cordia goeldiana), and for shipbuilding, Itauba (Mezilaurus navalium) The following species are also similar in properties to Teak: ,Courbaril (Hymanaea courbaril), Andaman padauk (Pterocarpus dalbergioides), Yellow sanders (Buchenavia capitata), Indian white cedar (Dysoxylum malabaricum), but only for stiffness Burma padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) is superior in strength properties. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Resistance to Chemicals The timber is resistant to water and numerous chemical reagents, including acids, and will not cause rust or corrosion when it comes in contact with metals. Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Blunting effect on machining is variable Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Easy Fairly easy with ordinary tools Cutting edges may dull rapidly Carving Carves well in dry condition Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Fairly difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Tungsten-Carbide cutting tools are recommended. Gluing Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Freshly sanded or planed surfaces are fairly easy to glue. Mortising Finishes well Moulding Good moulding properties Movement in Service Stable Small Nailing Easy to nail Pre-boring recommended Possible if prebored Holds satisfactorily Holds nails well Planing Planes well, to a good finish Special attention required Easy to plane Cutting angles should be reduced to 20 degrees for best results. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant The sapwood also has low permeability, but the wood has a high natural resistance to decay which tends to offset its poor response to preservative treatment. Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Variable qualities Responds well to hand tools Cutting edges should be kept very sharp to prevent the wood from crumbling Routing & Recessing Moderately easy Cutting edges dull rapidly and severely because of interlocked grain and silica content Sanding Poor results Good sanding properties Sanding qualities are generally good, but abrasives tend to be clogged. Frequent sandpaper changes are usually necessary. Screwing Easy to screw Screwing yields good results Screwing yields good results Nailing/screwing difficult without pre-boring Turning Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities Easy to cut No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Good gluing qualities Bolt preparation requires steaming Steam Bending Moderate Painting Fairly good painting properties Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Staining Stains well Natural oils in the wood may interfere with adhesion and drying of some finishes. Removing surface resins with a solvent that is compatible with the finish to be used is suggested to reduce the wood's tendency to repel finish coats. Varnishing Good results Satisfactory Fairly good response to preservative treatment