Teak oil - does it do any good?

[bluedragon]

Having just carefully cleaned the cockpit teak strips and brought them back to a "woody" looking appearance with a silver-grey sheen, is there any real benefit to the teak in now oiling it, or is it just for cosmetic appearance purposes? Does the oil actually prolong the life of the teak in any way?

 

[Norman_E]

As far as I can tell it is a waste of time and money to use it. I have tried it, and the effect was very temporary.

 

[Quandary]

As far as I can tell it is a waste of time and money to use it. I have tried it, and the effect was very temporary.

Likewise.

 

[doug748]

I think nothing looks better than clean oiled teak. It tends not to last though and I doubt if it does any real good.
I once had an oiled teak tiller, with a tight fitting waterproof cover, and that worked well. I suspect I used Danish Oil though, which is more refined and has better setting qualities. You could possibly keep it up with this if you had a cockpit cover.
I now use Cetol Novatech - light pine, on my teak toerail. It is a sort of cross between a stain, an oil and a varnish - might be worth a try.

 

[pvb]

The only thing teak oil is good for is attracting dirt. Leave the wood bare and treat it with Boracol a couple of times a year.

 

[saxonpirate]

Yep..... leave well alone. If you want your teak looking blacker than normal after weathering and a nice helping of polution... use teak oil. Unless you're desperate to take on a full time maintenance regime to keep your teak looking like it's been newly sanded, varnished/oiled let it weather naturally.

Teak as you probably know is a naturally oily wood. Trying to laquer it up with more oil externally is a total waste of time....

 

[bluedragon]

The only thing teak oil is good for is attracting dirt. Leave the wood bare and treat it with Boracol a couple of times a year.

Sounds like that answers my question! Haven't come across Boracol before. From what I read it keeps the dreaded green slime at bay? Works well?

 

[KellysEye]

The problem with teak oil is it isn't teak oil, if you read the label it's a mix of teak oil and linseed oil. The linseed oil eventually turns the teak black. The only way to get it back to teak colour is serious sanding.

If you can find pure teak oil go for it, however it is expensive.

The label saying teak oil is fraudulent and should be banned and replaced with teak/linseed oil.

 

[pvb]

Sounds like that answers my question! Haven't come across Boracol before. From what I read it keeps the dreaded green slime at bay? Works well?

Works exceptionally well. It contains both an algaecide and a fungicide, so as well as keeping the green stuff away, it keeps the little black mildew spots away too. Lots of people mistake the mildew for dirt, which is why they keep cleaning their teak. With Boracol treatment, cleaning is rarely needed. Also works great on sprayhoods (and teak garden furniture).

 

[Stork_III]

Works exceptionally well. It contains both an algaecide and a fungicide, so as well as keeping the green stuff away, it keeps the little black mildew spots away too. Lots of people mistake the mildew for dirt, which is why they keep cleaning their teak. With Boracol treatment, cleaning is rarely needed. Also works great on sprayhoods (and teak garden furniture).

I have just used Brintons Patio Magic, cheaper and easier to get than Borocol. Cleans up the teak deck like magic, now looks grey when dry and pale brown when wet. Works on sprayhoods etc as well.

 

[pvb]

I have just used Brintons Patio Magic, cheaper and easier to get than Borocol. Cleans up the teak deck like magic, now looks grey when dry and pale brown when wet. Works on sprayhoods etc as well.

It seems that Brintons don't openly publish information on their products. Patio Magic has Benzalkonium Chloride in it, like Boracol. But Boracol also contains Disodium Octaborate, a powerful fungicide. Boracol is recommended by Hallberg Rassy for the care of teak decks.