Teak Oil removal

[Squeaky]

Good morning:

A friend of mine tasked his lady friend to apply teak oil to a teak table and four chairs on his verandah before leaving to go sailing. When he returned he discovered that she had used far too much oil and it had now formed a thick film which is almost thick enough to be scrapped off but not quite.

He has tried various solvents and scrubbing with steel wool which makes an impression but will require hours and hours to achieve anything worthwhile.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be done or know of any solvents which might shift the excess oil?

Cheers

Squeaky

 

[theoldsalt]

Try a power washer. My Karcher seems to shift most things and cleans up garden furniture including teak.

 

[jbweston]

If it's not too late, please don't use steel wool. Bits come off and get into the grain of the wood where they rust giving a nasty pox effect. I won't have the stuff anywhere on the boat. But I suppose it's always possible that it isn't such a problem ashore as there's no salt.

Also I'd go easy on the power washer if the wood is genuine teak as it can rip out the soft material in the grain, giving a washboard effect. Don't even hand scrub it with the grain - gentle wiping across the grain is best.

Sorry to sound so gloomy. I'd try to find a solvent. Perhaps consult an experinced painter/decorator who has had to do the job before. I guess white spirit might do it, but do try a small invisble area first.

 

[macd]

He has tried various solvents and scrubbing with steel wool which makes an impression but will require hours and hours to achieve anything worthwhile.

It's not quite clear whether this method was performed on the teak or the lady friend. If the latter, is she now any brighter?

 

[VicS]

Good morning:

A friend of mine tasked his lady friend ...............

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be done or know of any solvents which might shift the excess oil?

Cheers

Squeaky

A paint stripper ?

 

[Stork_III]

Try applying more oil, to soften the existing, and then wipe off.

 

[MASH]

Concur with no steel wool or power washers. Solvents must be the way to go, start with "soft" ones like white spirit or turps and go on to more aggressive ones like benzene or perhaps even acetone or cellulose thinners. Try them on hidden parts first but teak is tough and will take most solvents without damage, its the residue if any and what it does after a day or two that I would be looking out for. A wipe of fresh teak oil will restore the surface afterwards.

Funny how the stuff disappears from decks after just a couple of rinses with sea water though.