Staining teak

[surferguy001]

First of all i'm not really sure where this should be posted but... i bought teak cleaner for my boat railings and followed the directions just as it said. next i applied the teak oil just as that said too (the cleaner and oil came together.) anyway, the hand railing looked good; however, after two or three days of being out in the sun the teak faded and looks as it did last week. Any suggestions? i was considering just painting it white if all else fails.

- o and i did sand the railings down to bare wood before starting any of the treatment. Thank you all in advance!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Staining teak

If it's dried out, it may take a few applications to get enough oil back into the wood. This is something that needs to be applied on a regular basis.

 

[surferguy001]

Re: Staining teak

i forgot to mention that some black (I believe its mold) spots have also appeared, which were not there before i began to restore the wood...

 

[PaulyV]

Re: Staining teak

I have applied 5 coats of Linseed oil to some teak rails I am installing. It is still soaking it up every 2 days. I will keep applying untill its stable.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Staining teak

If teak had been neglected in the past it just takes extra work and applications to bring it back to normal. Sometimes it requires re-sanding in the process but, the end results are worth the effort

 

[arks]

Re: Staining teak

THE LAST THING YOU SHOULD DO IS PAINT IT!!!!
Teak is one of those woods that, even when it appears to be 'beyond hope', can often be brought back into servicable shape. You just gotta use the correct materials.

First, IMO you need to forget about using teak oil. As you discovered, oiling works for only a short time.
To do it right, it's best to remove the teak from the boat because it needs to be chemically cleaned. It's a messy job but the results are well worth it. Semco makes a very good 2-part cleaner. Use rubber gloves and eye protection because the stuff is caustic and can burn. Follow directions and always brush WITH THE GRAIN to minimize damage. After thoroughly washing it down, let it completely dry and hand sand it, again with the grain.
Once it's clean, smooth and dry, you can apply the finish of your choice. I've been very happy with Cetol (I use Cetol Gold), which is an oil-base finish made for teak and other oily woods. If it's applied to properly prepared wood, the finish will look great and last for years with minimal maintenance.