In need of a new source for Burmese teak

[For.the.birds]

hey. My names is Dylan I have been building custom spearguns for 6 or so years now as a hobby. I am a machinist by trade and a woodworker by hobby. I have made about 40 guns now and just used up the last of the old growth teak wood that I have been using to make my blanks. I bought the teak I had been using from a family friend years ago and can not get any more. I am in need of a new source for good teak. This forum has been such a valuable resource while learning to build spearguns. You all have a great wealth of knowledge and are so willing to share and help. This is my first post on This fourm and have made all necessary searches prior to asking this question. I am hoping some of you gun builders have a current source for good Burmese teak, dry, straight grain , Aged ect... In a perfect world I would be able to get it under $10 a board foot. Any info or ideas would be much appreciated. I plan to buy enough, if I can find a suitable source to build at least 10 more blanks to get going on aging. I have a couple more blanks to keep me busy while the new batch cures and ages. Hopefully someone here knows a trustworthy sustainable source.
Thanks in advance,
Dylan

 

[foxfish]

Hi Dylan, where do you live?
There are other woods you can use to make stable guns.

 

[For.the.birds]

I live in Bodega Bay , Northern California. And yes I do know they're are othe suitable woods to make spearguns out of. I just prefer to work with teak and pay very close attention to detail the whole build, I like to use the best materials I can acquire.
Thanks
Dylan

 

[foxfish]

So do I but I prefer wood with more charter like cherry or maple, I use teak and iroko too, but tend to mix the laminates with different wood for effect.
I would love to see a few pictures of your guns ?

 

[For.the.birds]

Hey. Thanks for the reply. I took some shots of some of the more recent spearguns I have made. Cool guns you've built. Anybody with a good source for teak please chime in. I only have a few blanks made up and am in need of a new source.
Thanks
Dylan

 

[For.the.birds]

Here are the other pics.

 

[For.the.birds]

Pics continued

 

[For.the.birds]

Bump.

 

[For.the.birds]

Is there a different section of the fourm that this question would be better placed in?
Thanks

 

[For.the.birds]

Bump. If someone knows a better section of this fourm for this question or a different fourm possibly. I know there are many knowledgeable gun builders on this fourm and could sure use some help.
Thanks

 

[foxfish]

I wish I could help you, in my case I would contact the nearest lumber yard and ask them?

The thing is, teak is an endangered tree & is hard to come by, I am a professional boat builder & we have not been using teak for many years, iroko is the nearest substitute, it is very similar in character but less oily.

So for spear guns I would always choose quarter sawn wood & trying to find a quarter swan or centre plank of teak is near impossible where I live!
I have a stock of both teak & iroko but it comes from salvaged boards .. decking, tables & cladding, none of it is quarter sawn but is fine for thin multi laminate guns.
Our local lumber yard has teak in stock but it is of a low quality flat sawn, outer planks.

I know teak is a good selling point for spear guns but I also think, its oily quality's might of been of more benefit many years ago, before epoxy's & polyurethanes were available.
Lots of the original teak guns from the 30s - 50s were solid one piece guns with no protective finish, in that case the oily teak would last well. I just think that folk have been brought up believing teak is the best speargun wood & that is why it sells & not because it is the best wood for a modern approach to building spearguns.
Sorry I cant help apart from suggesting you could try to find some nice figured alternative quarter sawn wood & make an experimental gun.