Preping teak sole for varnish

[Salish Sea Cruiser]

My teak and holly sole and companionway steps are in serious need of refinishing. This year I will limit myself the the steps. They have twenty years of dirt and whatnot ground into them with what appears to be a tung oil type finish. The steps are solid teak. So far, I have just scrubbed them with simple green in preparation for sanding. My concern though is that I'll be all summer trying to sand out the grunge from the pores and grain and getting everything down to bare wood. Any and all suggestions are welcome.thanksJohn...

 

[RichH]

If it is an oil finish ....

It will be totally lifted, dissolved by TriSodiumPhosphate (TSP): "Wood cleaner" that you buy in a hardware or paint store. You mix the TSP with water, (bleach as necessary with dilute mix of oxalic acid), lightly sand down the grain that 'rises' due to the water in the TSP and the necessary 'water flush' to remove the TSP. Otherwise for diffiicult to remove varnishes, on small surfaces, etc. I use EazyOff Oven Cleaner, then lightly scrape, etc. Less water to raise the grain. This depends on the 'base' vehicle of the varnish, etc. 

 

[Salish Sea Cruiser]

TSP

Thanks Rich, I'll hit it with TSP next. I should have some around here somewhere.

 

[sailortonyb Allied Mis]

Stripper/Wash/Sand/Solvent Wipe

You want to remove all grease/oil prior to sanding so as not to sand the oil further into the wood.I would start with some paint remover/stripper. This should also remove most oil/grease/grunge. Then wash with TSP which is also a grease/grime remover. Then sand down to bare wood. Prior to varnishing, give a quick wipedown with laquer thinner or acetone. Apply stripper and scrape off: 1 HourLet dry: 1 HourWash with TSP : 1/4 HourLet Dry: 1 HourSand with a palm sander: 4 Hours? Wash and wipe with Acetone: 1/4 HourI cant see how this entire process can take more than 1 full day.I assume the steps are removable, and can easily be workrd on from a workbench or table.IMHO Tony B

 

[Maine Sail]

You may be..

You may be amazed at how much gunk a Magic Eraser can pull out of dirty teak !!!

 

[Salish Sea Cruiser]

Ready for varnish

I scrubbed it twice with TSP and once with oxalic acid. Then sanded with an orbital sander-- 80 and 120. It looks good. The grain pores are is still a little dark in places, but I can live with it. I'll wipe it down with acetone and put some polyurethane on it. The TSP really did the trick and I did do it in my garage. Probably only took a couple of hours total. Much easier than I feared.Thanks for your help. I hope the cabin sole goes so easy when I get to it.

 

[Salish Sea Cruiser]

Mainsail

I never thought of that, but it sounds like a great idea and I;m certainly ging to test it out.