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, third 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 the third 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. With a little care, third grade perhutani teakwood can become wood that is resistant to insects, fungi and 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 third grade with first and second grade perhutani teakwood is that third grade tolerable visual teakwood defect such as dead knot, sapwood, solid black doreng. However all of them can be disguised with paint finishing. To hide the visual deficiencies, in the process of finishing, it is highly recommended to paint which will hide all of the wood defect.
Third Grade Perhutani Teakwood Grain
Third Grade Perhutani Teakwood Finishing Options
Third 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 third grade perhutani teakwood , solid colors should be applied to hide the disadvantage characteristics of the third grade perhutani teakwood above.
1.1. Transparent Wood Stain (visible wood grain )
It is not recommended to apply transparent color wood stain, because its transparent nature still shows the visual shortcomings of third grade perhutani teak wood.
1.2. Solid Color Wood Stain (invisible wood grain)
Third grade perhutani teakwood, still tolerate weavy grain, sapwood, white and black discoloration as well as live and dead knots, so this deficiency should be visually covered by a solid and non-transparent finishing layer.
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. It is not recommended to choose finishing with melamine system, because of its transparent nature, melamine system still shows the visual shortage of third grade perhutani teakwood.
3. Paint Finishing (solid color solvent-based)
Paint is a nitrocellulose-based auto refinish lacquer paint that is dry, fast, has high glossy visual and is available in a variety of durable color choices. This paint finishing system also has excellent adhesion and durability to be applied to wood. Beside applied to wood, this paint is also known as a painting system on vehicles, machinery, iron and steel. The last coat of paint finishing can be applied with a matte / doff or gloss top coat finished.
Paint finishing has no transparency at all, so it will cover all the deficiencies of third grade perhutani teakwood visual appearance. Below are some examples of the paint finishing color selection as follows:
3.1. Solid Color Paint (invisible wood grain)
