Orange Peel

[sailsmanship]

I am using Flagship varnish on a 6" wide piece of teak and am on my 4th coat. I am using a foam brush and putting on what I think is thin coats. I am starting to notice an orange peel finish. Am I putting on too heavy a coat? Does the foam brush contribute to this? And should I block sand it to level it? .... Any suggestion?.....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Orange Peel

I can't answer your Question,......<br /><br />But,.... I Can tell you that Teak Just Doesn't Like Varnish........<br /><br />Teak is Usually Oiled,.... Not Varnished.....

 

[one more cast]

Re: Orange Peel

Is it orange peel or fish eyes? Orange peel may be caused by to thin of coats (drying before it has a chance to flow out and can be blocked sanded and buffed out. Fish eyes are spots where the varnish is not adhering to the wood due to oil as Bondo said.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Orange Peel

Ditto Bondo. Remove all of the varnish and do it right with teak oil, not varnish.

 

[sailsmanship]

Re: Orange Peel

I tried oiling for about six months and got tired of spending the first part of every weekend oiling teak that was dried out from the sun.I realize that teak is not the best to varnish, but other than replacing it with something else, I personally don't have the desire to oil it every weekend. I do however have alot of time in the northern winter months to strip and varnish again like I'm doing now. And it is orange peel like the kind you used to get back in the 70's when you would paint a car in enamel.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Orange Peel

Seems to me you are doing the right thing, you are finishing a high quality wood with a after market product that does not level, that is dry with a uniform level. Simple answer applied cold no varnish will level uniformly, and no noob has the skill with the product to apply hot with the right level of hardeners. Just apply three coats and sand it down like its been done for generations. Welcome to wood boats.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Orange Peel

Teak oil – wash/restore the teak, apply 4 coats of Amazon “Blend 55”. After that, apply another coat of Blend 55 every month or two. Re-wash/restore the teak every 5 years or so.<br /><br />Varnish – Spar varnish is about as good as it can get. Wouldn’t know, but I have read that Boston Whalers with teak are only finished with varnish, never oiled. You need to totally strip the varnish every 2 or 3 years and refinish the teak with Spar again.

 

[DJ]

Re: Orange Peel

I like teak that is NOT oiled. Let it go. The sun won't destroy it, it will just make it a nice grey color.<br /><br />By the way, that's not orangepeel. Those are "luster cups".

 

[zaner]

Re: Orange Peel

I am an automotive painter/bodyman and it sounds to me like the oil you were using is counteracting with the varnish you are trying to apply. The oil has probably soaked deep into the wood which would try to repell the varnish. Kinda like oil and water. I would sand the wood more and try again hoping to get past the oil or take 18r's advice and stick with the teak oil. Otherwise you may run in cirles.....good luck

 

[Solittle]

Re: Orange Peel

Teak will "clean-up" quite nicely and very quickly with a pressure washer. It cleans both the black and grey crud.

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: Orange Peel

Originally posted by SoLittle:<br /> Teak will "clean-up" quite nicely and very quickly with a pressure washer. It cleans both the black and grey crud.

it also blows the pulp out of the wood and results in deep rutting and cracking. scrubbing with a stiff brush and some teak cleaner/bleach is the best thing for the wood.