Author Topic: Teak worth anything?  (Read 10147 times)

Offline Pete.

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Teak worth anything?
« on: August 02, 2014, 02:19:22 PM »
I have access to a fair amount of teak in the form of large high-quality sash window frames but I don't know what to do with it. The largest pieces are about 4" wide and 1.5-1.75" and about 30" long. Some are longer but that's the majority. Oh, they are painted if that makes any difference but stripping the trims off would remove most of that.

If you had these, what would you do with them?

Offline awemawson

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2014, 02:23:17 PM »
Excellent for pattern making

Garden furniture

Sash Windows (  :lol: )
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline Meldonmech

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2014, 02:32:53 PM »
 Hi Pete

                  I would certainly recycle the teak into furniture of my own design, my own choice would be antique period style. teak is a lovely timber to work with and was used on my kitchen table and a coffee table.  One thing to be aware of, it will attack iron and steel. If using screws and fittings make sure they are brass.

                                                                                   Cheers David

Offline Pete.

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2014, 02:56:12 PM »
I hadn't really thought about actually using it - unless it burns well! My knowledge of the brown stuff could be written on a teak matchstick. I guess i could stretch my skills and knock up a really posh rabbit hutch :D

Offline Fergus OMore

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2014, 03:23:49 PM »
Two uses! One is wind instruments especially Northumbrian pipes and the second is what most went for and that is propeller bearings and shafting.

Quite a few small bits go in pen making as well. I've used a lot in my time and the polish is from using conventional lathe tools and polishing using the turnings. There is a natural oil in the stuff.

Lucky you

Norman

Offline Pete.

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2014, 03:48:53 PM »
Pen blanks? Hmm, I might have enough to cut a few thousand.

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2014, 04:07:03 PM »
It's worth a fortune in boatbuilding. $20-30 a board foot here.

Rail caps stanchions, toe rails, companionway ladders, cleats, deadeyes, blocks, tillers, decking, basically everything and anything except masts. It is THE wood of choice if cost is not a consideration.
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline Fergus OMore

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2014, 04:38:18 PM »

VTsteam is correct! I got my first stuff from the stern tubes from  the ship breakers yards on the River Tyne at Dunston Staithes. Of course, the bits were stuck down with pitch and had to be cleaned up.

Too good for pens :wack: I'm a bit too young( at 84) to actually see teak used in early cars for track rod bearing blocks. Somewhere I have a note of Ian Bradley- as part of Duplex in Model Engineer describing the use.

With advancing age, I gave my remaining supplies of African blackwood, Brazilian rosewood and Burmese teak to a musical instrument maker. Then I got a request from the big boys in instrument making. You may be interested but blackwood is so scarce now that the turnings are mixed with synthetic resin to re-use!

Cheers

Norman


Offline Arbalist

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2014, 05:30:32 PM »
Teak is quite weather resistant so I carved our house number on a piece and fixed it near the front door. I oiled it once a year and it looked great. Sold the house over ten years ago so no idea if it's still there or not!

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2014, 08:57:23 PM »
BTW teak has a lot of silica in it so it dulls woodworking tools fairly fast.
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline chipenter

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2014, 02:42:51 AM »
you could ask the pepole restoring the Medway Queen iff it's any good for them , iff you are close enugh .
Jeff

Offline Pete.

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2014, 04:16:42 AM »
you could ask the pepole restoring the Medway Queen iff it's any good for them , iff you are close enugh .

Well I'm right next to Medway but I suspect they have thrown away more than I have got during the deck renewal.

Offline malbenbut

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2014, 06:06:54 AM »
"BEWARE" teak is carcinogenic.
Ship stern tube propshaft bearings were lignum vitea never ever saw any teak ones.
MBB

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2014, 07:44:20 AM »
Guess I'm a goner then.

Too old to die young, anyway.
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline Fergus OMore

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2014, 03:53:03 PM »
Is this Teak out of India and Burma or so called teak -out of Africa?

Even at that, 'teak' which replaced oil and blood soaked decking on  whale factory ships in the 50's on the Tyne was actually Borneo Red Seraya. I recall making kayaks and dinghies from it- as a substitute for Honduras and so called African mahogany.

So my memory is coming back.

Norman

Offline Eugene

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Re: Teak worth anything?
« Reply #15 on: August 05, 2014, 05:15:51 AM »
I'll be making a case for a flintlock pistol in the next whenever, it would be great for that sort of stuff; very classy.

Eug