Canberra Teak

[burkee]

I recently bought a cutter on which the previous owner had placed a wooden deck that was described to me as Canberra teak. I've been told that it's supposed to be an environmentally friendly alternative to regular teak (whatever regular teak means) and that it weighs so much it sinks in the water. The deck is dark and I would like to lighten it to the natural grey I see elsewhere. Does anyone know anything about Canberra teak? Do the standard teak maintenece and cleaning methods apply to it? My Google search was not fruitful. This is my first post, so I apologize for the many rules I've undoubtedly broken. Burkee.

[burkee]

Just found out Canberra is not teak but a separate type of wood altogether, often used in outdoor furniture and decking. Still can't find anything about cleaning and maintaining it.

[StevenBauer]

There is a wood named Cambara. A Brazilian Hardwood. It is not related to teak. I've used it successfully on house decks.

Steven

[peter radclyffe]

I recently bought a cutter on which the previous owner had placed a wooden deck that was described to me as Canberra teak. I've been told that it's supposed to be an environmentally friendly alternative to regular teak (whatever regular teak means) and that it weighs so much it sinks in the water. The deck is dark and I would like to lighten it to the natural grey I see elsewhere. Does anyone know anything about Canberra teak? Do the standard teak maintenece and cleaning methods apply to it? My Google search was not fruitful. This is my first post, so I apologize for the many rules I've undoubtedly broken. Burkee.
is it merbau, im guessing, because it looks like teak

[peter radclyffe]

There is a wood named Cambara. A Brazilian Hardwood. It is not related to teak. I've used it successfully on house decks.

Steven would you use cambara on a boat, why or why not

[spirit]

Cambara "mahogany" (jaboty; erisma uncinatum) is currently sold widely as 5/4 x 6" decking, for much less (about $5/board foot) than most mahoganies. It is fine grained, has no knots, machines easily, has medium density, is available in lengths to about 18 feet, and of course is quite rot-resistant. It is good for boats.

[peter radclyffe]

cambara "mahogany" (jaboty; erisma uncinatum) is currently sold widely as 5/4 x 6" decking, for much less (about $5/board foot) than most mahoganies. It is fine grained, has no knots, machines easily, has medium density, is available in lengths to about 18 feet, and of course is quite rot-resistant. It is good for boats.
thanks

[georgel]

Canberra? If an ausie wood, possibly some variety of eucalyptus?? Ironebark? Gumwood?. Heavier than water is suggestive.

[burkee]

Wow! Very helpful. It'a almost certainly Cambera, which has drawn a lot of hits on Google. It seems to be considered a "workingman's mahogany," very durable and very good for boat decks, without some of the beauty of other mahoganies. Mine is dark brown (the owner evidently oiled it two years ago) and I'm searching the web for ways to lighten it, in case any of you have an idea. Many thanks, all.

[JimConlin]

Cambara is lovely stuff to work. It's heavy (.94).

One New Hampshire boatbuilder, now departed, called black locust 'New Hampshire teak'.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
There's categorically no such thing as Canberra Teak or indeed any form of Australian teak. I stand to be corrected, but I don't think we even grow plantation teak in this country.

It sounds like a typical mispronunciation to me. For instance, merbau (pron. "merbow" (bow as in stern,) is often pronounced by those who should know better as "mirboo."

From these last posts, cambara sounds exactly what the wood really is. Also that it should be good for the job.

Mike

[StevenBauer]

It's Cambara, Mike. From Brazil.

http://www.novausawood.com/cambara-hardwood-flooring-decking.html


Steven

[Tom W.]

I have used camberra (canberra?) as a deck on one boat and for trim on a 2nd. It is very nice to work with, and does look alot like mahogany, and looks very good varnished. I like it a lot, but it is heavy. If weight is not an issue I would use it again. Lots cheaper than mahogany and very clear. Long lengths are easily available.

[spirit]

The density of heartwood cambara (Erisma uncinatum) is about 0.6, both in the literature, and by my measurements. It is only slightly denser than Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia), which tilts the scales at 0.46-0.51.

[Duncan Gibbs]

.
There's categorically no such thing as Canberra Teak or indeed any form of Australian teak. I stand to be corrected....

Flindersia australis has two common names, Crow's Ash which is the horticultural name, and Australian Teak which is the term used by sawyers and a good many woodworkers. I'll look into why, but I suggest that it's because it may share certain properties with the tropical stuff.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

It's Cambara, Mike. From Brazil.

Thanks Steven. Yep, got that. Funny how a bit of mispronunciation produces a new product, isn't it?

(BTW, going back to my earlier post, 'Mirboo' is a town in Central Gippsland.)

Duncan, I respect your knowledge of timbermen's mis-speak. It sounds as though it's on a par with their use of "Tasmanian" or "Australian Oak," which is (a) not oak at all but eucalyptus, and (b) not just one eucalypt but any one of about four, depending on which one they happen to be milling at the time...

So I stand by my comment that there's no such thing as Australian Teak -- although as I suggested there may possibly be some Australian-grown teak somewhere (even though I've never heard of any.)

(My "I stand to be corrected" related to the second sentence, not the first one... :) )

Mike

[StevenBauer]

Hey Mike, did you ever get your hands on any Black Locust?


Steven

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
No, not so far, Steven. Overcoming import restrictions was going to be too onerous. (Got some Osage Orange though. And some French Oak from an old wine barrel, courtesy of Doorstop. :) )

Mike

[StevenBauer]

What is the restriction? I couldn't just send you a block of it?


Steven

[stevedwyer]

One of things I've found with Camberra is that it bends quite easily, compared to other mahogany-type woods, just by soaking.

[RFNK]

What is the restriction? I couldn't just send you a block of it?


Mike, it's easier than it sounds, although I probably wouldn't have it sent with a name like `black locust'! I've brought wood in from PNG in small amounts and fairly large amounts. As long as it's clearly free of bugs, there's no problem. Just declare on the package that it's new timber, has been checked for bugs etc. They might want to inspect it upon arrival but this is not usually a drama. Rick

[Graeme Forrest]

Tony
I would think smallish pieces Port Orford cedar would be readily available in OZ, ex shelter belt trees. Look for Lawsons Cypress or Lawsoniana, it is often sold here in NZ mixed with Macrocarpa (Monteray Cypress),a very similar species now frequently used for boatbuilding here.
Graeme

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

.
Thanks Rick. Steven and I discussed this some time back, and it seemed then that it was all going to be just too hard. But given your experience, perhaps we should try again.

So, Steven (or anyone) if you happen to have any small off-cuts you can spare, please email me and we'll see what can be arranged. (By small, anything bigger than, say, 4" x 2" x 3/4" could be useful.)

Stop Press I've just seen Tony's comment, which seems right on the money. Shane, are you reading this?

Many thanks, guys.

Mike

[Graeme Forrest]

"Macrocarpa" sold here is frequently a mix of Lawsons,Monteray, and Mexican (Lusitanica) Cypress, most of that available at the moment is from shelter belt trees so clears more than about 2m long are rare. However some plantation grown stuf is starting to appear. The timber industry had some trouble getting people to grow cypress as it has about 50 year turn around as against 25 to 30 years for radiata pine, although the potential return from cypress is much higher. The three cypresses above have very similar appearance as timber and similar strength with Lawsons perhaps slightly stronger than the other 2, the weight of all three is similar to Kauri and the appearance when varnished is very similar to Kauri with the same sort of "lustre" although the grain is a little more prominent. Altogether nice stuff.
I understand similar shelter belt plantings were carried out in Oz, but the timber probably used for firewood, but may be worth some inquiries.
Graeme

[Duncan Gibbs]

Graeme, you'd be interested to know that in Roma Shire west of Brisbane there are some very big cypress plantations that supply the building industry because of that timber's ability to withstand termites and allow a good penetration for pressure treatment of CCA for outdoor use. There's also a fella down near Melbourne whose built a replica of a Portuguese carvel from the stuff. Japanese cypress is also a really nice timber as well, great for decks and boardwalks in exposed and salt laden situations. I dare say it too would make a lovely boat building timber.

[paladin]

Mike...do you need some Osage/Bois d'Arc....if so, how much.....I may have nephew to chop down a good piece, either that or trade some Pecans for some again....

[PeterSibley]

Graeme, you'd be interested to know that in Roma Shire west of Brisbane there are some very big cypress plantations that supply the building industry because of that timber's ability to withstand termites and allow a good penetration for pressure treatment of CCA for outdoor use. There's also a fella down near Melbourne whose built a replica of a Portuguese carvel from the stuff. Japanese cypress is also a really nice timber as well, great for decks and boardwalks in exposed and salt laden situations. I dare say it too would make a lovely boat building timber.

Perhaps in this case cypress is a loose use ? :D

[watson1990]

I have two pieces of Camberra in my shed. It is from Brazil and it is also known as Brazilian Redwood.
The two i have are 5/4 x 5 inches and 16 feet long.Not a knot in them. They cost me about $11.00 a piece in 2003 .I bought them for some accent strips on my new cedar strip canoe .. and yes,they will bend with a bit of effort. by that I mean that they will bend ,from front to back [ 16 feet mind you ] about 15 inches with about 15 pounds of weight.. so ,yes ,,a bit bendy . But that does suit my needs quite well. Lovely wood and it is a bit of an oily wood as teak is . It is also the wood that they are burning down as they are clear cutting the Brazilian rain forest.. Just cut and burn . To them ,it has no value. Fools and such short sighted !
Watson
P.S. I bought it from Hancock Lumber just north of Ellsworth ,Maine. Is that hancock ? just up route one from ellsworth about 6-9 miles ..

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

Mike...do you need some Osage/Bois d'Arc....if so, how much.....I may have nephew to chop down a good piece, either that or trade some Pecans for some again....

Thanks Chuck. It was no big deal, just that I thought I'd like to try making a few trad fittings using US timber to see how it stacked up alongside the ones I've been using (some eucalypts and some Asian imports.)

Osage I sort-of know, but Bois d'Arc I don't (or is it the same stuff under a different name?)

But please for god's sake don't go cutting down any trees on my behalf, I'd die of embarrassment.... :o

Mike

[oznabrag]

Osage Orange = Bois d'Arc = Bodock = Hedge Apple = Maclura Pomifera.

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

= gracias. :)

[burkee]

Cambara "mahogany" (jaboty; erisma uncinatum) is currently sold widely as 5/4 x 6" decking, for much less (about $5/board foot) than most mahoganies. It is fine grained, has no knots, machines easily, has medium density, is available in lengths to about 18 feet, and of course is quite rot-resistant. It is good for boats.

Thanks. Mine is a darkish brown color, rather than the light grey that teak ages into. The previous owner said he oiled it about two years ago. Do you know if it will eventually weather to the light grey look of teak as the oil fades over time? If not, is there any way to achieve that look? Or do I have to with it weathering dark brown? Many thanks. Ed Burke.