Refreshing the woodwork

[superheat6k]

Ocean Belle has loads of wood surfaces. Mostly in sound order, but needs a refresh to make it glisten. However I don't much fancy sanding it all down and varnishing for weeks.

Can anyone suggest an easy to apply top finish. Teak and mahogany mostly.

 

[rafiki_]

Sounds like a job for a French Polisher, while you get on with some of the other jobs.

 

[sharpness]

I don't know of a particular product to recommend, but as you say if the wood work is sound then rubbing down would be best avoided to save a huge amount of time. Biggest hassle will be all the "cutting in", but to keep you motivated we viewed a Turbo 36 last year which had the internal woodwork refurbished and it looked stunning.

 

[Tender_aft]

I was watching this the other day. Very interesting epoxying a table top (or any surface that is flat). Looks a bit too glass-like for anything other than tables and sideboards.

Take a look near the end first so you can see the results...then decide whether it is worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCH-aHmqeVQ

It is made by http://aeromarineproducts.com/

Not got around to finding a European equivalent yet (no hurry, got a boat to buy first). At some point, I read that you should use casting resin. The blow torch to get rid of bubbles is interesting (!) on a resin filled boat. Caveat emptor.

It looks as good as I have seen in new Azimuts. Has anyone got any experience of doing it this way? (rather than 7+coats of varnish)

 

[maverickofpoole]

Supplier of epoxy resins http://www.bluegee.co.uk/ they are also knowledgeable on their products so if you decided to go this route give them a call

 

[PlanB]

We recently rubbed down and revarnished just the fiddle edges and hand rails, plus step nosings and it made an amazing difference.

 

[superheat6k]

I was watching this the other day. Very interesting epoxying a table top (or any surface that is flat). Looks a bit too glass-like for anything other than tables and sideboards.

Take a look near the end first so you can see the results...then decide whether it is worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCH-aHmqeVQ

It is made by http://aeromarineproducts.com/

Not got around to finding a European equivalent yet (no hurry, got a boat to buy first). At some point, I read that you should use casting resin. The blow torch to get rid of bubbles is interesting (!) on a resin filled boat. Caveat emptor.

It looks as good as I have seen in new Azimuts. Has anyone got any experience of doing it this way? (rather than 7+coats of varnish)

Looks very interesting. I have refurbing the salon table on my to do list, but would need to form a rigid edge.

Not sure it would work for the bulkheads, but a non drip version would be excellent.

 

[Poignard]

Furniture cleaner/ reviver:

4 parts Linseed oil

4 parts Vinegar

4 parts Turpentine

1 part Methylated spirits

 

[Hadenough]

To refresh good varnish use this after a light abrasion with a fibre pad.

http://www.treatex.co.uk/hardwax-oil

 

[Bojangles]

Looks very interesting. I have refurbing the salon table on my to do list, but would need to form a rigid edge.

Not sure it would work for the bulkheads, but a non drip version would be excellent.

The epoxy idea is an interesting one, by the looks of it a couple of rounds of masking tape on the edge protruding above the top and then brush sealed with the epoxy (and allowed to cure) would do the trick. I have no idea how workable the epoxy edges would be by sander etc once cured, maybe someone else here will know. Would it be similar to polishing gel coat, down through the grades to get back the glass finish? How resistant would an epoxy top be to scratches?

 

[Tranona]

Ocean Belle has loads of wood surfaces. Mostly in sound order, but needs a refresh to make it glisten. However I don't much fancy sanding it all down and varnishing for weeks.

Can anyone suggest an easy to apply top finish. Teak and mahogany mostly.

No short cuts here. You need to determine what the coating is before doing anything. Increasingly industrial type finishes are being used rather than traditional varnishes and are sprayed on, then cured. Very difficult to touch up or refresh further than cleaning to remove dirt and grease.

Suggest you find out from the builder what the finish is and how to do any repairs before doing any rubbing down and recoating. The epoxy being suggested is not a practical finish unless you go right back to bare wood and then do not subject the finished product to UV. It is also very expensive and difficult to apply properly, despite what the video might say.