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If you are
deciding on what type of furniture to
have in your home or yard, you may have
thought that you want the best. In the
minds of many that means teak wood. But
how do you know if a piece of furniture
is really teak furniture?
Since teak wood is a very expensive
wood, there are some unscrupulous people
who would try to pass other pieces of
furniture off as teak, in an effort to
take your money. Therefore, it is
important that you know how to tell the
difference between real teak furniture,
and a fake, before you make a purchase.
The Feel of Teak
The first thing you need to know about
teak wood is that it does not feel like
other woods. Sure, it is as hard as
wood, but once you put your hand on teak
wood you may be able to tell the
difference between it and other wood
types. The most obvious difference is
that unlike other woods, teak does not
splinter. If you rub your hands across
the surface of a piece of wood you
should be able to quickly tell if it's a
fake. The first splinter you get in your
hand will be a quick indication.
The Smell of Teak
The next thing that may help you tell if
a piece of furniture is real teak
furniture or not is the smell. Many
things have a distinct smell. Leather in
a new car is a good example of one of
those scents that you know is the real
thing as soon as it hits your nose. In
the case of teak furniture, you will
smell a very light fragrant smell,
coming from the wood. It's an earthy
smell, but one that is different from
other freshly cut woods. Teak gets this
smell from the oils that are heavily
embedded in the wood.
The Color of Teak
Teak wood is unlike other woods in that
it can change its look substantially
with age. Most woods change as they age
only if you offer an outside stimulus.
For example, a dark wood may lighten if
you leave it in the sun day after day.
That is not the wood changing on it's
own, but rather the rays of the sun
having a bleaching effect on the wood.
Teak is different. No matter what type
of environment you have it in, teak will
change its colors, unless you stop it.
If you leave it in the sun, the colors
of teak wood will change from soft
browns and oranges to silvers and white,
almost in the way a person may get white
hairs are they grow older. On the other
hand, teak that is left in the shade, or
kept inside, will change to darker
browns and oranges over time. Either
way, you should be able to identify teak
wood by the beautiful grains in the
wood.
Normally, teak furniture from a
manufacturer is what it says it is, but
if you are looking to purchase from a
private sale or antique shop, it is best
to know the characteristics of the wood
to make sure you are getting the real
thing.
Source:teakbench.blogspot.com/2008/09/making-sure-youre-getting-real-teak.html
9/8/08
More Articles About Teak:
Teak Wood [Tectonis Grandis]
Real Teak, First Quality Tectona Grandis
Teak Furniture From Teak Etcetera
Make Sure You're Getting Real Teak
Teak Wood Patio Furniture
Caring for Teak Furniture
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