What causes color variation varnished teak?

[BAD ORCA]

I'm finishing up some repairs in the head area. I decided to scrape off all the old varnish in the hallway of the head, and re-varnish it from scratch. When i did the teak became darker than it originally was. You can see in the photo the difference in the colors. The hallway floor used to be the same light honey color that you can see in the main salon area floor thats visible in the picture.

why am i getting such a variation in color? Is it just caused by different brands of varnish or different type, or do you think they used a stain on the old floor to lighten it up before they varnished? When i scraped off the old varnish with a scraper and heat gun, it did not appear like it was stained in any way with a lighter stain so am scratching my head a little. I prefer the light honey color instead of the darker color and would consider sanding all back off (only one layer so far) and re-doing. Do you think the original varnish had a coloring agent in it like Cetol? I wonder if maybe they used Cetol? Whatever it was, it is very durable. The holly wood lines are much brighter in the section i just re-did and the holley on the original floor section looks a little yellow'ish to me.

I used Le tonkinois original formula varnish.

 

[dlochner]

Teak has natural color variations and exposure to air and UV can change the color.

In your case the culprit is probably the varnish. LeTonkinois is an old school varnish. Old school varnishes tend to have an amber tint, which is what your new sole looks like. The amber tint will make the underlying wood appear darker and slightly orange or amber colored. If you are unhappy with the appearance, the only cure I know is to remove the varnish and start over.

If you like the lighter look, get a varnish that is clear. When I was trying to decide on a varnish, I bought small containers of the varnishes I was interested in and painted sections of a piece scrap teak to see what the effect was. For a clear finish I've been using TotalBoat Halcyon and been pleased with the results. Or you might try a polyurethane finish rather than a traditional varnish.

 

[jssailem]

Some varnish does have additives that can cause a difference in color. More often the teak oils have been exposed to heat, water, UV, etc. You can try teak bleaches and brightening products to prep the wood before varnishing. You can also get clear varnish so that you minimize the color additives. But still find that different products age differently and the colors will change.

Only way I know to get an exact match is to strip everything down and prep all the wood the same. Then apply one brand of varnish to all the wood. That way they start the same color. Then when they age there will be environmental differences.

 

[BAD ORCA]

Thanks for replies. I'll stop by West Marine tomorrow and see what they have. I will have to try it on some scrap teak and see what they look like. I didnt realize it could make such a difference in the color. it only took a couple hours to scrape so not a huge deal. If i can get it close i will be happy. I'd like to get the exterior teak the same light honey color.

 

[dlochner]

Thanks for replies. I'll stop by West Marine tomorrow and see what they have. I will have to try it on some scrap teak and see what they look like. I didnt realize it could make such a difference in the color. it only took a couple hours to scrape so not a huge deal. If i can get it close i will be happy. I'd like to get the exterior teak the same light honey color.

The interior of my boat is cherry. A prior owner varnished some of the cherry with an amber tinted varnish with several coats, ugly. Every year I chip away at the ugly and revarnish something.

 

[BAD ORCA]

The interior of my boat is cherry. A prior owner varnished some of the cherry with an amber tinted varnish with several coats, ugly. Every year I chip away at the ugly and revarnish something.

yeah i wish i had known. i would not have stripped back to bare wood. the small area where i overlapped the coat of varnish onto the old floor did not change color. i think for the rest of the floor, i will just lightly sand top surface only and apply a fresh coat so i dont affect the color. I had a can of Varethane at the shop and a piece of the floor i had cut out. I did a test and its definitely a little lighter in color than the Le Tonkinois but still not as light as the original floor.