How to Tell if the Wood is Made From Teak
Since some come by their furniture by second hand sources or relatives, it is helpful to know what type of wood that the furniture is made from. Besides adding to the provenance of a piece, knowing about the type of wood can help you determine how to best care for it.
First of all, if the wood is unfinished, there are a few tricks to determine if it is genuine teak. If there is an area that is not visible, take a saw and cut into the wood slightly with a table saw. Set the saw aside and after about half an hour, hold the saw to the light and look or tiny droplets of oil on the blade. This oil is teak oil and is abundant in teak wood, making it resistant to rot, insects and the elements.
Another way to determine if unfinished wood is teak is to lightly scrape it with a fingernail. If the wood has a slight scent of vegetable oil, it is teak. Teak has a unique and pleasant aroma.
Freshly cut teak will turn from a light colored wood to a darker and richer shade if left in the sun for a few weeks. Teak that is already made into teak outdoor furniture will either be a light honey color, silver or silver-gray in hue. Teak is a maintenance-free hardwood, and if left out in the elements without oiling the wood, it will turn to a silver o silver gray color. Some people prefer their teak to remain the natural shade and so they regularly oil it with preservative oil. If you chose to oil your teak, it will need to be oiled regularly to maintain its color.
Sometimes, however, teak owners do not know about the maintenance free qualities of teak and mistake the patina for damage and stain or paint the wood. If you have inherited teak that has been stained or painted, unfortunately, this teak will need to remain in a sealed state permanently. You can strip the finish from the teak and try to oil it, but this is not always successful with teak. Consulting a wood restoration specialist about your wood may be in order to see what, if anything can be done to restore and protect your wood if it has been stained or painted.
The final hint that you may have genuine teak is by learning where the wood came from. Teak is a relatively scarce hardwood and is indigenous to India, Africa and Southeast Asia, in particular Thailand.
First of all, if the wood is unfinished, there are a few tricks to determine if it is genuine teak. If there is an area that is not visible, take a saw and cut into the wood slightly with a table saw. Set the saw aside and after about half an hour, hold the saw to the light and look or tiny droplets of oil on the blade. This oil is teak oil and is abundant in teak wood, making it resistant to rot, insects and the elements.
Another way to determine if unfinished wood is teak is to lightly scrape it with a fingernail. If the wood has a slight scent of vegetable oil, it is teak. Teak has a unique and pleasant aroma.
Freshly cut teak will turn from a light colored wood to a darker and richer shade if left in the sun for a few weeks. Teak that is already made into teak outdoor furniture will either be a light honey color, silver or silver-gray in hue. Teak is a maintenance-free hardwood, and if left out in the elements without oiling the wood, it will turn to a silver o silver gray color. Some people prefer their teak to remain the natural shade and so they regularly oil it with preservative oil. If you chose to oil your teak, it will need to be oiled regularly to maintain its color.
Sometimes, however, teak owners do not know about the maintenance free qualities of teak and mistake the patina for damage and stain or paint the wood. If you have inherited teak that has been stained or painted, unfortunately, this teak will need to remain in a sealed state permanently. You can strip the finish from the teak and try to oil it, but this is not always successful with teak. Consulting a wood restoration specialist about your wood may be in order to see what, if anything can be done to restore and protect your wood if it has been stained or painted.
The final hint that you may have genuine teak is by learning where the wood came from. Teak is a relatively scarce hardwood and is indigenous to India, Africa and Southeast Asia, in particular Thailand.
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