Teak
Tectona grandis
Teak is arguably the world's premier outdoor wood, renowned for its exceptional natural durability and resistance to weathering, decay, and marine organisms. Native to South and Southeast Asia, its high natural oil content and dimensional stability have made it the gold standard for shipbuilding and outdoor furniture for centuries, though sustainability concerns have led to widespread plantation cultivation.
Botanical Profile
Tectona grandis is a large deciduous tree reaching 25-40 meters in height with a straight trunk and large oval leaves up to 60cm long. Native to India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia, it thrives in monsoon climates. The tree sheds its leaves in the dry season and produces small white flowers and woody fruit.
Physical Properties
The heartwood is golden to medium brown when fresh, weathering to silver-gray if left untreated outdoors, with a coarse, uneven texture and natural oily feel. Density averages 655 kg/m³ when dried with a Janka hardness of 1,070 lbf. High silica and natural oil content provide exceptional weather resistance and dimensional stability.
Workshop Notes
Blunting Effect
High - significant silica content dulls cutting edges quickly
Gluing Advice
Challenging - natural oils can interfere, surfaces should be wiped with solvent first
Finishing
Difficult - oily nature repels many finishes, often left natural to weather
Steam Bending
Moderate steam bending characteristics
Historical Context
Teak has been used for shipbuilding in Asia for over 2000 years, with the British Royal Navy extensively using Burmese teak from the 18th century onwards. The HMS Victory featured teak decking. Over-exploitation led to severe depletion of wild stocks by the mid-20th century, spurring large-scale plantation forestry which now supplies most commercial teak.
Technical Specs
Concerns about wild harvest, plantation teak widely available