BajaNomad

Caoba wood ?

oladulce - 4-8-2006 at 10:02 AM

We've been trying to get 2 large wooden garage doors built for a few months now and our guy said that all the pine he's found has been crappy so he's decided to use Caoba. I can't find much info on this wood but I asked some Mexicano co-workers and their responses were "ooouuuu, muy bonita !"

Is the Caoba that's available in Mexico a type of Mahogany ? (holy cow !!) Even if it's not, it sounds like it's a beautiful wood and I probably won't want to apply any stain.

Any suggestions on what to apply to protect the wood from the elements ? I can bring it down to Baja or order the stuff if necessary.

Gracias.

[Edited on 4-8-2006 by oladulce]

bajaguy - 4-8-2006 at 03:16 PM

I would suggest Penafin wood treatment, in clear. It is not a sealer like Thompsons, but penetrates. I have had good luck with it on decks and siding

jerry - 4-8-2006 at 06:59 PM

some times a little stain brings out the grain
or i should say i little tone not too far off the original colors will bring the grain alive the seal it with your best top coat have a good one jerry

oladulce - 4-8-2006 at 08:26 PM

I see what you mean Jerry. Since we have to bring everything down with us, and I don't know exactly what Caoba looks like, maybe I'll get a couple of reddish and brownish stains to play with.

There's a "translucent" wood treatment product by Sikkens that's highly recommended by a custom carriage door company and I think I'll look in to that for the protective coat.

Thanks for your experience with Penafin bajaguy, and I'll check that out too.

Johannes - 9-29-2006 at 10:56 AM

the wood is mahagony not teak. it is much softer and needs a good polyurethane finish. Color clear with any tint make sure it is stabilized against uv

Cypress - 9-29-2006 at 11:06 AM

Johannes. Mahogany or Teak! Would be very happy to have a few board feet of either.:bounce:

comitan - 9-29-2006 at 12:02 PM

All of the Caoba iv'e seen here in La Paz is Plywood, very nice looking but soft and will need a finish.

Cypress - 9-29-2006 at 12:21 PM

Caoba? Low grade mahogany?:?:

Johannes - 9-29-2006 at 12:29 PM

The dictionary says African Mahogany.

Oso - 9-29-2006 at 04:39 PM

Dictionary published in Madrid, maybe? Logical enough, but you'll find little, if any, wood from Africa in Mexico. It would be prohibitively expensive if you did. A small amount of caoba is harvested in Quintana Roo, but most traditionally comes from Honduras (if they haven't clearcut it all). Baja's proximity to seaports indicates Philipine mahogany, perhaps. Honduran is better, and more expensive, straighter grained etc. Phillipine is ok for most applications but a bit more problematic for carving due to unpredictable grain patterns. Anyway you look at it, those are gonna be some GUCCI garage doors! A slightly reddish stain would bring out the natural color best.

Al G - 9-29-2006 at 06:37 PM

This is a high end rain Forest lauan. Wood peddlers call it Mahogany, but it is not. Well mahogany is lauan, Caoba is lauan, as there are over 1000 species of lauan. I have some lauan that is as lite as balsa! Honduran mahogany (lauan) on the other end is the densest, a dealer will get upset if you call it lauan:lol:
For a look at Caoba:
http://www2.fpl.fs.fed.us/TechSheets/Chudnoff/TropAmerican/h...
I forgot to say Caoba is a great wood for Baja, but not real durable. Paint it and save some headaches. If you go clear spray 3 coats of clear exterior latex, you will get 5-7 years in the sun. The first bad spot you see refinish it then. Don't wait or you will really regret it.

[Edited on 9-30-2006 by Al G]

Al G - 9-29-2006 at 07:31 PM

I would add although, no wood in Baja will be cheap this should be the least expensive of all US woods. It should be priced as a lauan, not mahogany. It should not be an import, because it is a native tree to Mexico.
It also gives me hope for some real cabinet making in Baja.
I will have to find a way to over come all the splintering.
:bounce::bounce::bounce:

Oso - 9-29-2006 at 07:33 PM

Paint mahogany! Arrrgh, if you're going to paint it, why not just start with composition board? or metal? To me, that's blasphemy. Reminds me of an incident when I was an apprentice cabinetmaker in Oregon. We made a complete set of custom cabinets in Red Birch plywood for a homeowner who changed her (stupid b-tch) mind and decided she wanted them painted in white enamel. I came close to puking on the spot and almost refused but I needed the job.

Why not just hire some local kid to put a coat of linseed oil on it every six months or year or so?

[Edited on 9-30-2006 by Oso]

comitan - 9-29-2006 at 07:52 PM

Thank you Al now I know it wasn't me with the splintering on one side cutting, because I have used a lot of it and even used a Rockwell with the finest blade so said the person I borrowed it from.

[Edited on 9-30-2006 by comitan]

Bajalero - 9-29-2006 at 07:53 PM

I've had good luck preserving outdoor wood that won't be used as a running / walking surface with a mixture of boiled linseed oil and beeswax. Matter of fact I have some plywood that I boiled in a vat of the oil / wax mixture close to ten years ago , that's been sitting outside and except for being a little dusty looks to be in about the same condition as the day I treated it. . You could improvise with a hot , painted on mixture and use a heat gun to further its penetration. Can be slippery as heck when wet but I wouldn't want to be walking on any thing made of mahogany anyhow.

http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/10881233/Mahogany_Caoba_Wood_...

Some more doors to check out

Bajalero - 9-29-2006 at 07:56 PM

http://www.caobadoors.com/Hawaii/hawaii_garage_doors_page1.h...

Al G - 9-29-2006 at 08:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
Paint mahogany! Arrrgh, if you're going to paint it, why not just start with composition board? or metal? To me, that's blasphemy. Reminds me of an incident when I was an apprentice cabinetmaker in Oregon. We made a complete set of custom cabinets in Red Birch plywood for a homeowner who changed her (stupid b-tch) mind and decided she wanted them painted in white enamel. I came close to puking on the spot and almost refused but I needed the job.

Why not just hire some local kid to put a coat of linseed oil on it every six months or year or so?

[Edited on 9-30-2006 by Oso]


Oso...if that bother you, the rage in San Francisco will send you screaming.. A hell of alot of the Cabinets sold to be painted are Beautiful Cherry, and clear white rock hard Maple. Caoba is not a big deal compared to them. Just for reference I prefer Natural finishes.

Al G - 9-29-2006 at 08:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajalero
I've had good luck preserving outdoor wood that won't be used as a running / walking surface with a mixture of boiled linseed oil and beeswax. Matter of fact I have some plywood that I boiled in a vat of the oil / wax mixture close to ten years ago , that's been sitting outside and except for being a little dusty looks to be in about the same condition as the day I treated it. . You could improvise with a hot , painted on mixture and use a heat gun to further its penetration. Can be slippery as heck when wet but I wouldn't want to be walking on any thing made of mahogany anyhow.



http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/10881233/Mahogany_Caoba_Wood_...


Bajalero...The finish you are describing is century's old, but still relevant and effective today.

[Edited on 9-30-2006 by Al G]

Caoba wood doors

oladulce - 9-29-2006 at 10:11 PM

Since this post came back to life, here's a photo of the garage doors which were hung a couple of weeks go.

The doors are about 2" thick, beefier than heck, and muy hermosa.

I used a "wood treatment" product by Sikkens which is a stain and protectant and was recommended by a custom Carriage door company. It's supposed to last about 5 years before needing a touch-up coat, but we'll see if that's true in the desert. The doors will only need a good cleaning or pressure washing before I renew the Sikkens.

Hallelujah- the days of sanding and sanding before re-varnishing are over !

The doors, hinges, and other hardware were all made in Cd. Constitución.

oladulce - 9-30-2006 at 07:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajalero
http://www.caobadoors.com/Hawaii/hawaii_garage_doors_page1.h...


I agree Bajalero, that site's at the top of my favorites bookmarked for design ideas.

Well, ideas in my dreams mostly. Some of those doors would be very pricey and the landscaping, puro tropicál. But there's some unique gates and some very cool rock work that could be applied in Baja.

Al G - 9-30-2006 at 08:50 AM

oladulce ...Great looking doors and style fits well. Were these bought or built on site? About the finish, Sikkens is one of few products I have not used. Please keep us informed as to 5 year Claim until refinish. Most stain and protectant never come close to their claims and excuse it with "you have different conditions then we were referring to". I wood look closely at it every year and if you see it turning white or any discoloring, I would recoat. After a couple of recoats you should have a truly durable finish. Don't recoat until it starts to change colors. Color change indicates most of the product has deteriorated.

[Edited on 9-30-2006 by Al G]

Bajalero - 9-30-2006 at 10:29 AM

Very nicely done Oladulce.

What are the appx. dimensions of the doors?

oladulce - 9-30-2006 at 02:17 PM

Al-
The wood was ordered from a new lumber yard in Cd Constitución and it was milled and the doors fabricated by a carpinter our contractor found, also in Cd. Const. The doors were delivered out to Punta Pequeña by dump truck and hung by our contractor and helpers.

Thanks for the tip about watching for a color change in the finish. One of the next projects is the parking shade structure in front of the garage which will help protect the doors from direct sun in the summer.

Bajalero-
there are 2 (sets) of garage doors. Both door openings are 8' high and one is 7' wide, and the other 9'.