Restoring Teak

[Blue5]

The previous owner of our boat lavished a good helping of coloured varish on most of the exterior teak. I would like to strip back and leave natural, my initial thoughts were to use a chemical varnish remover and I am looking for advice if this is a good idea or any other ideas for restoring the teak

 

[Jeremy_Sothcott]

Never found anything that realy stuck to Teak..hate removers too so the good old Scarsden scraper is the way to go afterwards it needs a soak in product like teak oil type stuff (wish I could remember the product - been twenty years!)

Danish oil?

Jeremy

 

[Casey]

To preserve Kala Sona's teak decks (they have lost at least 1/8th inch due to scrubbing) I have varnishd her decks with Sikkens. It has been remarkably good. If I was going to remove this covering I would use the Farrow system and enquire at www.arccompany.co.uk for a price. I have no connection with the company other than being a satisfied customer of the Farrow system.

 

[ccscott49]

Use a heat gun and scraper, if this doesnt work, (may go like evostick) then resort to chemical stripper, or sand it off.
Be very careful, is the exterior wood plywood? if it is you will have to be very careful, most teak faced ply is but 0.6mm thick veneer, you go through it very quickly, dont ask how I know!!
If the stained varnish has soaked in, it will be the devil of a job to get it out, you may have to resort to coloured varnish again, or god forbid, sikkens!

 

[Peterduck]

If you get a decent summer, that will remove most of it without you having to lift a finger. The problem is usually how to stop the varnish evaporating before your eyes.
Peter.

 

[Blue5]

Thanks for the opinions, made a start using some Nitromoors on a small test section, lifts the varnish very well and with a scraper, wire wool and some 120 garnet paper brings it back to an acceptable finish, biggest problem is going to be masking and covering up, but am going to leave the teak untreated to weather naturally.