"Joe Bleau" wrote in message
...
With the prices and scarcity of teak I am just wondering if anyone
here has tried using Jatoba (aka Brazilian Cherry) as a substitute?
Or, how about Ipe (Sometimes called Brazilian walnut). Informed
comments appreciated.

Not informed until I became curious enough to look them up in a book:

Jatoba aka Courbaril aka Locust:

910kg/m3, Interlocked grain, very strong and hard, bends well, glues and
screws well, moderately durable but not the sapwood. small movement.

Used for boat planking, steam bending, turning, cabinetry, lock gates,

Ipe aka ironwood:

960-1200 kg/m3, very strong and hard and resistant to bending. Difficult to
work, very durable, small movement.

Used for bridge building, docks, exterior construction, joinery, cabinets.

Both of these timbers are much denser and harder than teak (610-690kg/m3).

Tim W