Identifying a wood finish

[Dazedkipper]

The internal fit out of my Mirage 29 is all in teak but it is rather dark, a brown/red rather than being a honey colour. Close examination shows it has had a very fine coat of some type of varnish, not enough to build up a film but only to seal the grain. I suspect that this has imparted the change in colour. The boat was built by Boating Scene (nee Rydgeway) in 1986/7 and as far as I am aware has the original finish.
Can anyone suggest what it may be and if it may be cleanable to lighten the wood to its correct hue?

 

[sailorman]

Most likely oiled

 

[Dazedkipper]

Most likely oiled

That's what I thought but in some places there is a definate hard finish like a lacquer.

 

[DanTribe]

Possibly an acid cured lacquer, e.g. Melamine.
Often used by joinery manufacturers to give a rapid cure and high build gloss finish.

 

[Martin_J]

As Sailorman suggests, possibly oiled.

Check out something like Liberon Finishing Oil.... definitely a hard finish. Suitable for kitchen worktops and even wooden children's toys.

 

[xeitosaphil]

As suggested it could be either oil or Melamine spray finish, possible way to check which would be to get a cabinet scraper and scrape the surface off.

If oil it will probably look like a timber finish with some oil left in the deep parts of the grain of the wood.

If melamine spray finish, when scraped it will look like a glass type finish as the whole of the grain will be filled with laquer.

 

[DanTribe]

None of the replies so far has really answered you question of how to clean or lighten the finish.
I suggest you find a bit that doesn't show, perhaps the back of a locker door, to experiment.
1st, try rubbing with meths on a cloth to see if any dirt or oxidation comes off.
2nd, try cellulose thinners, gently, this may act as paint stripper if a cellulose coating has been used.
3rd, rub down with fine grade sandpaper and try a coat of varnish to check if it's compatible.
4th, Drastic action!. Strip it all off with stripper and start again. This is a daunting and messy task. Be sure that you can't live with the existing colour. If you don't do it all it will look horrible and patchy.
Whatever you do, LOTS of ventilation.
Good luck.