The interior teak bulkheads have turned very dark over time. I would like to lighten the color and clean them up. Has anyone done this and what worked? Thanks in advance.
wsandifer@cdicorp.com
Interior teak bulkheads
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Catherine Monaghan
Re: Interior teak bulkheads
Bill,
Before using any product on your interior wood, try the following method on some scrap teak first. If you're not satisfied with the outcome on the scrap, your bulkheads will still be okay.
I'm assuming your interior teak is the oiled, matte finish and not varnished.
You might try teak cleaner, the same stuff you would use on the exterior teak. And then try sanding it lightly and cleaning it again. If it is still too dark, it can be either bleached or pickled. If it is very dark, you may have to bleach it several times before achieving the desired effect. Pickling uses a white pigmented stain or paint.
My mother had an old mahogany table that she got from my grandmother. The finish on it was nearly black. My father and brother worked together to remove the old finish, sanded it smooth and bleached all of its parts before refinishing it with a lighter stain. Of course they were able to use the bleach on the table's parts while it was taken apart and on a horitontal surface. I don't know if one should attempt pickling or bleaching wood in a vertical configuration. Anyway, the table looked much nicer with the ligher finish. But it was mahogany, not teak.
I've seen other woods pickled. I've never seen pickled teak, so I don't know what it would look like.
I know that teak can be bleached. Some boatyards will do it for you.
Anyway, here's some information regarding both <a href="http://www.craftassoc.com/woodtip.html">pickling</a> and <a href="http://www.wwforum.com/faqs_articles/wo ... eaching</a> techniques for wood.
Again, please use scrap wood if you choose to try either of the above techniques.
Hopefully, a good cleaning is all the teak needs.
Good luck.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
Before using any product on your interior wood, try the following method on some scrap teak first. If you're not satisfied with the outcome on the scrap, your bulkheads will still be okay.
I'm assuming your interior teak is the oiled, matte finish and not varnished.
You might try teak cleaner, the same stuff you would use on the exterior teak. And then try sanding it lightly and cleaning it again. If it is still too dark, it can be either bleached or pickled. If it is very dark, you may have to bleach it several times before achieving the desired effect. Pickling uses a white pigmented stain or paint.
My mother had an old mahogany table that she got from my grandmother. The finish on it was nearly black. My father and brother worked together to remove the old finish, sanded it smooth and bleached all of its parts before refinishing it with a lighter stain. Of course they were able to use the bleach on the table's parts while it was taken apart and on a horitontal surface. I don't know if one should attempt pickling or bleaching wood in a vertical configuration. Anyway, the table looked much nicer with the ligher finish. But it was mahogany, not teak.
I've seen other woods pickled. I've never seen pickled teak, so I don't know what it would look like.
I know that teak can be bleached. Some boatyards will do it for you.
Anyway, here's some information regarding both <a href="http://www.craftassoc.com/woodtip.html">pickling</a> and <a href="http://www.wwforum.com/faqs_articles/wo ... eaching</a> techniques for wood.
Again, please use scrap wood if you choose to try either of the above techniques.
Hopefully, a good cleaning is all the teak needs.
Good luck.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization
Raritan Bay
Bill Sandifer wrote: The interior teak bulkheads have turned very dark over time. I would like to lighten the color and clean them up. Has anyone done this and what worked? Thanks in advance.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
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Olli Wendelin
Re: Interior teak bulkheads
I have cleaned my bulkheads using West Marine two part teak cleaner. This cleans and bleaches the wood. This is caustic and requires the use of heavy gloves and goggles. Then apply West marine teak oil several times. Spot check the results prior to use, like a spot on the interior of the hanging closet where no one will ever see it.
Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC
wendelin@spawar.navy.mil
Olli Wendelin
BLUE MOON
Charleston, SC
wendelin@spawar.navy.mil