Rhodesian Teak-Baikiaea plurijug

Rhodesian Teak-Baikiaea plurijug

I have a bit of Rhodesian Teak-Baikiaea plurijug teak that I got in the beginning of the year from Rare woods USA. I don’t have enough to build the whole Benchcrafted Roubo Workbench out of it but I do have enough to to make the bench top. Ill try to get some more for the rest but if that does not happen ill have to build the base out of something like mahogany or ash. I specifically got the Teak because of it hardness. It almost impossible to do severe damage to this wood.

Tree Family:

Fabaceae or Leguminosae, the legume family; the cassia group.

tree Origin:

Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Rhodesia and Zimbabwe.

Other common names:

Rhodesiese kiaat, gusi, umkusu, Zambesi redwood, umgusi, mukshi and mukusi.

The tree:

Rhodesian teak is a small much-branched tree growing to a height of 50 to 60 ft. with a clear bole 10 to 15 ft. in length and 30 in. in diameter. The bark is smooth and brownish in color at first, but as it gets older it becomes cracked and vertically fissured. The leaves are alternate and compound with 4 to 5 pairs of opposite leaflets. It has large, beautiful flowers growing on large, strong axillary racemes that are about a ft. long. The fruit is a flattened, woody pod, 2 in. by 5 in. and from June to September they explode and scatter seeds widely.

Appearance:

The heartwood is an attractive reddish-brown with prominent, irregular black lines and flecks. The sapwood is a pale pinkish-brown and is clearly demarcated. The grain is straight or slightly interlocked with a fine, even texture and a low luster. Because of its tannin content, moist wood will stain when in contact with iron.

Density:

Average reported specific gravity is 0.73(ovendry weight/green volume), equal to an air-dried weight of 58 pcf. Janka hardness is 2990 pounds of force.

Drying & shrinkage:

It dries slowly with little or no degrade, however care in stacking is essential. Movement in service is rated as small. Average reported shrinkage values (green to 12% moisture content) are 1.5% radial and 2.5% tangential.

Working with the wood:

Rhodesian teak is difficult to saw and because of its high silica content, it severely blunts and gums saw teeth. Machinery with adequate power and tungsten-tipped cutting edges are advised. Despite its interlocked and variable grain, it plains well to a smooth pink finish. It turns excellently and its gluing and finishing properties are good. Its dust may cause respiratory irritation.

Durability and longevity:

The durability of the wood is excellent. The heartwood is unaffected by fungi and moderately resistant to termite attack. The sapwood is susceptible to attack by powder-post beetles. Freshly cut logs must be handled quickly to prevent attack by the forest longhorn beetle. The heartwood is highly resistant to preservative treatment and the sapwood is moderately so.

Uses for this wood:

Rhodesian teak is highly versatile and has many uses. Its main use is as flooring but it is also used for furniture, cabinetwork, turnery, carving, decorative veneer, mining timber, railway sleepers and store fittings.