Teakwood, 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.
Teakwood 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, second grade perhutani teakwood 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 second grade perhutani teakwood 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. Second grade perhutani teakwood teak is resistant to insects and fungi, nor is it eaten by termites.
Because of its superiority, teakwood 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.
Teakwood 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. The difference between second grade and first grade perhutani teakwood as follows. There will be no dead knot on the surface of the wood, which can reduce the durability of teakwood itself. Live knots are tolerable. The discoloration such as white color or black doreng, is also tolerable. Wavy grain also tolerable. However all of them can be disguised with the help of proper wood stain finishing. To cover the visual deficiencies, in the process of finishing, it is highly recommended to use dark color of wood stain which will disguise the lack of appearance of the beauty of the grain.
Second Grade Perhutani Teakwood Grain
Second Grade Perhutani Teakwood Finishing Options
Second grade perhutani teakwood can be finished by using a water-based finishing system, or solvent-based finishing system as follows.
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 second grade perhutani teakwood , dark transparent colors should be chosen to cover the disadvantage characteristics of the second grade perhutani teakwood above. Meanwhile, if you choose to not to use any color / type of dark wood stain , then the final appearance of the teakwood color will look like the natural color of the teakwood 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)
Second grade perhutani teakwood has a high economic value still. Because the solid color is not transparent, it is unfortunate if the appearance second grade perhutani teakwood 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 the second grade perhutani teakwood, which are dark colors on average. The addition of wood stains which tend to be dark-colored, serves to cover the disadvantage characteristics of second grade perhutani teakwood mentioned above. Meanwhile, if you choose to not use any dark color wood stain then the color of the teak wood will look like the natural color of the teakwood, 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)
Second grade perhutani teakwood, besides the price is expensive, the wood grain is also quite beautiful to display so it is an unfortunate if the finishing choosen is paint that will hide the whole appearance of the teakwood grain itself.
