Ozbow

Just saw an ad for Masters now supplying what they call Brazilian teak decking.
Does anyone know if it's the same as what's listed on the wood database http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-ide ... ds/cumaru/

Is it any good for bow making? Sorry, but the numbers are pretty much meaningless to me.
Apparently very dense which is promising but the grain is interweaving which is not good?

Specs below.


Cumaru (Dipteryx odorata)

Common Name(s): Cumaru, Brazilian Teak

Scientific Name: Dipteryx odorata

Distribution: Northern South America

Tree Size: 130-160 ft (40-50 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 68 lbs/ft3 (1,085 kg/m3)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .86, 1.09

Janka Hardness: 3,330 lbf (14,800 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 25,390 lbf/in2 (175.1 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 3,237,000 lbf/in2 (22.33 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 13,850 lbf/in2 (95.5 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 5.3%, Tangential: 7.7%, Volumetric: 12.6%, T/R Ratio: 1.5

Cheers,
Bormin

At $4.99 per lineal metre it may be worth a try. Bow design as always will have a bearing on the outcome.

Daryl.

Hit and miss mate... some boards will make a bow, others that look the same have bad soft spots in them, though thinking about it now I was pushing the wood pretty hard

It should go ok for bows up to 50lb or so and keep them fairly long to keep the strain down a little.

yeah I was thinking a simple 68" pyramid design backed with boo of course (still got tons of it).
I'll keep the boo thin this time so as not to overpower the belly. I've wrecked too many bows with compression fractures.
Although, I think most of the problems I've had been due to being too bloody impatient and not exercising the limbs enough during tillering.

Daryl, we don't have a Masters in Port and the Bunnings here stopped supplying spotted gum or anything really other than merbau so just wanting to know if anyone's had any experience with Braz teak before I go for a drive down to Taree for one board

Cheers,
Bormin

Hi Bormin,

Have you tried this timber merchant, they list various decking timbers that may be suitable.

Fastplast Building Supplies
16 Blackbutt Rd Port Macquarie.
(02) 6581 2526

http://www.fastplast.com.au/timber_products

The Balau may be ok with bamboo backing.

Common Name(s): Balau
Scientific Name: Shorea spp.
Distribution: Southeast Asia
Tree Size: 150-200 ft (45-60 m) tall, 3-6 ft (1-2 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 53 lbs/ft3 (850 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .69, .85
Janka Hardness: 1,600 lbf (7,120 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 17,730 lbf/in2 (122.3 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 2,457,000 lbf/in2 (16.95 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 10,280 lbf/in2 (70.9 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 5.5%, Tangential: 10.1%, Volumetric: 15.7%, T/R Ratio: 1.8

Daryl.

Thank you Daryl!
I had no idea they supplied timber, must have driven past them a hundred times.
They're just around the corner from who I get Titebond from

Hmm: Brazilian Teak/Cumaru: saw a heap of the stuff on sale as reeded decking boards in Masters the other day... Might have to pick through the racks, grab some, and have a play...