I was given a large piece (36"x60") of butcher block countertop…very dense…likely teak. My plan was to cut it up into smaller pieces and make some cutting boards/serving trays. Any recommendations in cutting this type of wood on the CNC?
I dont have any recommendation about how to cut up the wood. However I recommend you use a dust mask and get the chips off your skin as soon as possible. Many of the tropical hardwoods can cause allergic reactions. Even if you dont have a reaction carrying the sawdust inside your home may get others that reside inside the home reactions. Recommend you blow yourself off before entering your home.
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Teak’s main claim to fame is its oiliness which is why it’s used on boats so much. It’s now quite expensive although you can find a variety used everywhere in Indonesia where it’s the “national tree”.
I’ve milled a little teak, nothing too much out of the ordinary. One thing to watch out for is the greasy chips clogging your mills. Maybe stick to two fluted bits.
Good choice for cutting board due to the oily nature. But if they’re nice pieces I’d use them for some more noble cause if you have any artistic goals in mind. Teak, at least legacy species used in the USA, can take a reasonable amount of detail although slightly stringy. This piece is about 2 inches wide:
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Think about what you’re doing with that Teak (if it’s Teak). Teak is running (around me) for about $50 a board foot! which is close to 10 times more than maple…to give you an idea. I can’t even source boards that are thicker than 2". It’s becoming very scarce. If you’re going to sell those cutting boards, consider their worth!
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One concern is it contains silica, so will wear tooling.
Photo of the stock?
As noted, it’s quite expensive/valuable, and any tropical wood should be treated w/ respect and caution due to rarity, the ecological cost of its harvesting, and the allergen potential.
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