Teak wood, which has the scientific name Tectona Grandis , can be found in tropical regions of Asia such as in Indonesia, Burma, Thailand, India. The vast majority of commercially harvested teak is grown on teak plantations found in Indonesia and controlled by Perum Perhutani (a state owned enterprise) that manages Indonesia forests, the best area where the best teak plantations cultivated especially in the border area between Central Java and East Java, which has long been known as the best teak-producing area, due to the calcareous soil conditions.
Teak wood is a kind of heavy wood with a average dried weight of 600-700 kg / m3. The janka hardness reaches 450-500, 4,740 N and has a bending strength of 1100-725 kg / m3 and a pressure strength of 650 - 425 kg / m3. With a strength class level II, first grade perhutani teak wood has the strength to withstand the load well, in both direction, either parallel to the wood grain, or perpendicular to the wood grain.
With the level of durability class I / II, when first grade perhutani teak wood placed in direct contact with moist soil can last 8-5 years, if the wood is not protected against wind and climate but protected from water, it can last 15-20 years. When the wood placed in a place which is protected from wind, weather and water (for example indoors), endurance is unlimited. First grade perhutani teak wood is resistant to insects and fungi, nor is it eaten by termites.
Because of its superiority, teak wood is often used in the plywood industry to make teakwood plywood, processed into jamb, door, window, parquet, flooring, wall panel, ceiling panel, stair, moulding, furniture and home decor.
Teak wood has yellow brown to dark golden brown color. Generally straight grained with a coarse, uneven texture, medium luster and an oily feel on the surface because of the natural content of oil in teak wood. In term of quality of first grade perhutani teak wood, there will be no sapwood, white wood, and dead knot on the surface of the wood, which can reduce the durability of teak wood itself. The first grade perhutani teak wood also has a better visual appearance than 2nd and 3rd grade perhutani teak wood. This quality teak wood greatly emphasizes the beauty of the straight wood grain and crown / round wood grain on its appearance. A few number of live knots in small size are sometimes still found in this grade. During the finishing process, first grade perhutani teak wood is not recommended to use dark wood stain or even using paint finishing that will cover the appearance of the beauty of the grain.
First Grade Perhutani Teak Wood Grain
First Grade Perhutani Teak wood Finishing Options
First grade perhutani teak wood can be finished by using a water-based finishing system, or solvent-based finishing system asfollows.
1. Acrylic Water-based Finishing (transparent and solid color water-based)
Water-based finishing is an environmentally friendly, odorless, non-toxic paint that is easily applied with a spray or brush evenly, also easy to repaint. Because of its excellent resistance to ultraviolet light, this finishing is suitable for use in interiors and exteriors. Besides being weather resistant, this finishing is also resistant to mold and insects. Acrylic water-based finishing has good adhesion to the surface of the wood, seeps into the wood pores and is quite elastic, so that the wood will not easily peeled off. The last / top coat of finishing can be selected with the choice of doff / matt or gloss appearance.
There are two types of color in this acrylic water-based finishing system: transparent colors and solid colors. For first grade perhutani teak wood , bright transparent colors should be chosen to highlight the superior characteristics of the First grade perhutani teak wood above. Meanwhile, if you choose to not use any color / type of wood stain , then the final appearance of the teak wood color will look like the natural color of the teak wood as it is, just apply the final layer: clear doff / matt or clear gloss only then.
1.1. Transparent Wood Stain (visible wood grain )
1.2. Solid Color Wood Stain (invisible wood grain)
First grade perhutani teak wood is one of the most expensive types of wood and has very beautiful wood grain. Because the solid color is not transparent, it is unfortunate if the appearance first grade perhutani teak wood grain will be covered by a solid color.
2. Melamine Solvent-based Finishing (transparent color solvent-based)
Melamine finishing is a two-component wood finishing system with low formaldehyde content so it is relatively odorless and less poignant in the eyes. This paint has a low level of yellowing tendency, and a good level of scratch resistance, has a matt or glossy look, hard and thick coating, and resistant to water and household chemicals. This finishing system still has good transparency so that it can show the authenticity of the wood grain. The last coat / top of finishing can be selected with the choice of doff / matt or gloss appearance.
Melamine finishing has very high transparency properties. Below is a choice of wood stain that can be applied to first grade perhutani teak wood, which are light colors on average. The addition of wood stains which tend to be light-colored, serves not to cover the characteristics of first grade perhutani teak wood mentioned above. Meanwhile, if you choose to not use any color wood stain then the color of the teak wood will look like the natural color of the teak wood, just apply the final layer : clear doff / matt or clear gloss only then.
2.1. Choice of Transparent Color Wood Stain (visible wood grain )
3. Paint Solvent-based Finishing (solid color solvent-based)
First grade perhutani teak wood, besides the price is very expensive, the wood grain is also very beautiful so it is an unfortunate if the finishing choosen is paint finishing that will hide the whole appearance of the wood grain itself.
