What's wrong with teak oil??

[mikebees]

What\'s wrong with teak oil??

Have just bought monster bottle of teak oil dirt cheap from discount store and intend to apply it lavishly (to boat, not me) next week end. Am I doing wrong? Usual weathered teak, which forumites usually rave about, looks to me like something dug up from a grave. Expert opinions appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Chimp]

Re: What\'s wrong with teak oil??

I'm no expert, but here are my experiences.

Teak is difficult, not least because it does get shabby, and you need to keep it clean, but you can very easily take all the filling out from between the grain of the wood, and end up damaging it.

I don't think teak oil is bad as such; merely that it is a food for the wood, not a coating - if you apply it, do so sparingly, and rub off the residue afterwards. Otherwise it gets sticky and rather unpleasant.

I have tried a lot of teak treatments myself, and actually prefer good old fashioned fresh water (scrubbed across the grain). Yes it gives a pale, wahed-out look, but that is to my taste. Others seem to prefer Sikaflex, but that also gets shabby over time ... the choice is pretty much up to you.

2 golden rules, though....

Never scrub along the grain and NEVER use a power hose on teak.

 

[AGalloway]

Re: What\'s wrong with teak oil??

Nothing wrong with it in my opinion Mike. I remember one old scrote who used to prowl about the boatyard intent on making sure everyone used boiled linseed oil on teak and anything else at their peril [of the boat sinking]. I've got to the stage now where I use whatever I feel like. I usually use teak oil and after 24 hours very lightly sand the wood.
As far as I'm aware boiled linseed isn't even regarded as waterproof now.
Although I am not fortunate enough to own a teak deck, I nevertheless have over the years replaced as much as possible on the boat with teak.
The rubbing strake I lightly sand , apply teak oil and just leave it like that. No varnish, no boiled linseed oil, just B&Q teak oil used sparingly. if you used it lavishly though a thunderbolt doesn't hit you - honest!
I use oxalic acid to clean teak and it does a first rate job - remembering to wash down very thoroughly.

 

[Swagman]

Re: What\'s wrong with teak oil??

Agree with first respondant that the bleached look using no oils is best - certainly easier to maintain on a long tem basis and when clean - looks great.

We had a full teak deck on our last yacht and found similar need to you, when first acquired. Appreciate you do need great care - but we used a pressure washer to first remove the layer of green mould and a lot of the dirt. Thereafter a soft brush, a little detergent and working all the time across the grain, then once up to standard we used just water on an ongoing basis.

No personal experience on this statement - but one pal actually sourced 'real' teak oil having claimed most branded products were in large part linseed. He claimed that linseed oil would eventually darken in the Australia sun.

As stated - no personal experience if this claim was true or not - and his 'real' teak oil certainly got dark over time anyway!

 

[sailorman]

Re: What\'s wrong with teak oil??

be very carefull using teak or linseed oils, any rags should be soaked in water after use as they can self ignite.
this is not a joke /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[tcm]

Info: What\'s wrong with teak oil

I'll tell you what's wrong with teak oil- it's obvious, that's what. I can see a mile off that you've got teak oil on your teak and what does that say, hm? It says that you can't quite hack it when it comes to teak maintenance. It says that you've tried but failed to keep the teak clean, and now having failed you and/or your lazy lazy crew are trying another approach. Look at the big boats and not one uses teak oil cos the crew using it will get laughed at, and then fired. And quite right too.

Teak oil makes the surface a bit more slippery, but does keep the dirt off - it cleans feet/shoes as they pass over. It's a teeny bit water and grime-proof, but not very, really. Anyone can tell teak that is oiled rather than natural. Then it's time to point and laugh. Har har teak oil teak oil haha - hey - how about Treadmaster that's a bit easier to maintain eh haha snigger.

Er anyway, oil or not, you need to clean the teak first, and with the right gear this can be pretty quick. The oil will need redoing - more than once a season.

In contrast to some other advice, a brush should never go near teak. That for grp innit. Use a flat softish sponge pad on teak with a Surehold (red) stick to apply 2part teak cleaner from Wessex Chemicals diluted at least 5 to one and pref 10-1, and then rinse off but without powerwash of course. The dirty silvery grey effect is often found near the edges, where the part 1 hasn't been properly applied.

Eventually the teak goes a bit ridgy as the softer material gets removed: this takes about two years on an open teak deck with just rain hitting it, or about 30 minutes with an idiot using a power washer. Use a belt sander with 40 grit to get to a flat surface, and smooth from there with an orbital. Extend the life of the teak by fitting canvas breathable raincovers to the teak walkways when you aren't on board. It'll still go ridgy eventually, but not as quickly.

 

[Metabarca]

Teak: the right way...

Ok, TCM the Teak King /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif, you've convinced me that if I don't restore my teak deck properly, I shan't be invited on to those shiny new yachts I'll be bumping into (!) this summer! So, next question: where are Wessex Chemicals, how can I get them to deliver to me in Italy, and/or what are the active ingredients in their two-part? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[yvonneward]

Re: Teak: the right way...

As new owners of a boat with a teak deck we slopped on a borax solution with a mop in November. All the dirt floated off, the green bits (algae) died and it has stayed clean and lovely all winter whilst the boats around us go increasingly green. We put it on the spray hood too and that has stayed blue instead of turning green. We will do this 2 or 3 times a year; the borax will gradually soak into the wood and protect it. If you do this the green stuff gives up the ghost and just floats off so you dont need to pressure wash or use elbow grease and saves damage to the deck. Algae and mildew hate borax and I think that it is only these micro-organisms that mess up teak decks. Any other dirt comes off with water surely? I don't think you should sand teak decks because you will remove microns of wood each time and make it thinner and thinner. Also I would not put any oil on it because it would make it sticky and attract dirt and I like the silvery look as long as it is not turning green and black. But I am only a beginner so will have to see if this strategy works. The borax came from Focus, in a decorating mould inhibitor. PM me for more details.

 

[StellaGirl]

Re: Teak: the right way...

washing powder and a brush and thent a teakl restorer if you want a brighter look. Dont use oil. This is what the big boats in the Caribbean use and its never failed me!

 

[cliff]

Re: What\'s wrong with teak oil??

"Monster bottle from discount store" is not a good way to go.

All teak oils are not the same!

IMHO either Briwax or Rustins are OK but Screwfix's is useless as are other cheap oils.

This might be of some help.
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[roger]

Re: What\'s wrong with teak oil??

I agree with Cliff. Group test in PBO found the same. Rustins came out top of that test.
It is a pain first cleaning then wiping on Teak oil and especially keeping it off the GRP where it si verrrry difficult to get off. I like the look.
Incidentally teak decks are not going to last long with sanding with 40 grit belts every two years or so.
It is worth wiping on more oil before the wood starts to discolour.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Re: What\'s wrong with teak oil??

I've always used Decks Olje teak oil #1 on all exterior teak surfaces after cleaning the teak with a bit of soap and water. I then use Olje #2 for wash boards and on my old boat the rubbing strakes.

I know some argue for the washed out look but I prefer the rich colour I get from Deks Olje (No I don't promote them just a satisfied customer).

As for laughing at my efforts, I've never been laughed at yet and if someone does? I don't care it's my boat and I like it.

For me the teak care rub down is the last of my post winter rituals and the most satisfying.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Re: Info: What\'s wrong with teak oil

tcm, surely you don't mean 40 grit - more like 140 grit.

40 grit on a belt sander would be throuigh to the GRP or whatever is underneath before you know it.

I would respectfully suggest that sanding teak decks is a last resort for when things have gone badly wrong with the maintenance/washing/scrubbing.

My two pence worth is that I agree with those who say you should be very cautious about using pressure washers and scrubbing with the grain.

 

[mikebees]

Re: What\'s wrong with teak oil??

Thanks everyone for your helpful advice.
Obviously from the differing opinions its largely a matter of individual taste.
As my boat is less than a year old and I would like to preserve that beautiful fresh teak look, I think I'll go along with Captain Haddock.
Mike