English name: Teak
Latin name: Tectona grandis L.F.
Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Tectona L.F.
Other name(s): Burmese teak, teca.
Features: Heartwood tends to be a golden or medium brown, with color darkening with age.
Trees and distribution: Large trees, up to 30m, more than 1m in diameter, distributed in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Material: Grain is straight, though it can occasionally be wavy or interlocked. Coarse, uneven texture and moderate to low natural luster. Raw, unfinished wood surfaces have a slightly oily or greasy feel due to natural oils. Teak has been considered by many to be the gold standard for decay resistance, and its heartwood is rated as very durable. Teak is also resistant to termites, though it is only moderately resistant to marine borers and powder post beetles. Easy to work in nearly all regards, with the only caveat being that Teak contains a high level of silica (up to 1.4%) which has a pronounced blunting effect on cutting edges. Despite its natural oils, Teak usually glues and finishes well, though in some instances it may be necessary to wipe the surface of the wood with a solvent prior to gluing/finishing to reduce the natural oils on the surface of the wood. Teak can have a leather-like scent when freshly milled.
Applications: Ship and boat building, veneer, furniture, exterior construction, carving, turnings, and other small wood objects.
