refinishing hard rails

[smonard]

I've taken the wooden maybe iroko?, mahogany? handrails off my boat to re-varnish them. Previously they were varnished with wooden plugs covering the screw holes. I was planning on varnishing them at home then fitting them on the boat. If I do that then glue the plugs in the screw holes I will have to sand and re-varnish. If I varnish after fixing to the boat I wont be able to do the underside well and will probably get varnish everywhere. What do folks usually do? I suppose I could leave them bare or oil them. I'm not really sure of the wood, one had a couple of soft patches underneath so probably not teak.
Thanks

 

[Pye_End]

Sikkens Cetol, or what it has now become - International Wood Skin.

 

[Appledore]

I gave up with varnish, and the preparation. Now just use Danish Oil, reasonably cheap and apply with an old cloth whenever you want. Dries quickly too. Plenty of paper, etc, underneath the rails to stop drips on cabin roof.

 

[simon barefoot]

Would that be suitable for my interior joinery, doors etc. I'm not sure what timber they are, reddish, and certainly not varnished?

 

[Appledore]

Simon,

Are you talking about the Danish Oil? Well I use it internally on all the woodwork, and never have a problem.

Geoff

 

[simon barefoot]

Yes Geoff, thanks for that. Sounds ideal!

 

[Appledore]

I buy it in Trago. Usually just put a bit on a cloth, and rub over everything wooden.

BTW, where are you in Cornwall?

 

[Tranona]

Simon,

Are you talking about the Danish Oil? Well I use it internally on all the woodwork, and never have a problem.

Geoff

Oil might be OK on bare wood (although not everybody agrees that it is particularly good), but not suitable for interior woodwork that has already been finished. You need to find out what kind of finish is there already if you want to recoat it. It is usually a varnish of some sort, but some production builders use a spray on lacquer.

 

[simon barefoot]

I buy it in Trago. Usually just put a bit on a cloth, and rub over everything wooden.

BTW, where are you in Cornwall?

That most glorious town, Penryn!