Refinishing Teak Handrails

[carego]

Having a problem with color of rails after taking down to bare wood. One rail is dark brown and the other is a golden amber, which is what we want. Have used bleach on the dark rail, brightner and stripper and it is still dark. It has been sanded down to bare wood. Ay suggestions

 

[Coriolisbc]

Make the light one darker?

 

[shipwreck66]

Two different kinds of teak. I have the same phenomenon with my hatchboards. Wife accused me of using different Cetols on them.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

CareGo,


Sanding & bleaching are not the best way to prep your teak pal.
I've never really understood why people sand their wood away.

If you REALLY want the wood to have the same color, Look for a product called Snappy Teak, a 2-part liquid stripper. You should find it @ a marine industrial parts center like Glen Mar or go online for a list of stores that carry it in your area.

Part one, the cleaner brushes on with any brush. I use the sponge brushes. It sets up like a pudding on the wood. I usually repeat this 2 times. Then wipe the pudding off. They include 2 small brushes & instructions.

One advice is to brush ever so lightly as part 1 will soften the pulp. If you brush hard, you will get grooves in the soft pulp. I brush ever so lightly & stingy. When 1 & 2 are used, when dry the pulp is back to normal.

Part two, an acid is like instant sex, the minute you apply this, the teak will brighten up uniformally. I let set a few minutes and apply a second coat.
Rinse with water & let dry. It will look like sandlewood.

Now comes the sanding. Very little with a fine 220 grit, Weathered wood will of course need heavier sanding.

There you have it quick & simple. I guarantee as soon as you brush on varnish, you'll be amazed, you never had such bright teak. I don't know why more people don't know of the stuff, Ive used this the past 20 years.

Hope this helps.......

CR
.

 

[fox islander]

...if I could afford them I'd go with Stainless. I'd rather sail than sand.

 

[shipwreck66]

If it wasn't for all the teak to varnish every summer, I wouldn't have anything to do on those 100deg days when there isn't enough of a breeze to move a moth.

 

[jrowan]

Stainless steel rails everywhere just makes a sailboat look like a lame powerboat.
Besides the teak gives the boat character, and a nautical look. Its a zen thing to me to "sand de floor, & wax on, wax off Danielson." But to the point of refinishing, I have not used the Sappy Teak that CR recommends as its a lil' harder to find. My old standby is to sand off the loose varnish, to bare wood, then I use the light Cetol color stain & top coat with gloss marine Captains varnish. Sand lightly between coats. Between the Cetol application & top coats of varnish, the gloss finish itself helps to even out & conceal blemishes. (Although I have never found a varnish that lasts more then a year before it peels.) I try to only sand lightly, & I only apply new finish after the old finish is beginning to peel off. That way UV has already worn & softened it & makes it easier to remove. I also don't like to sand to bare wood more then necessary. But I also have a habit of selling a boat & moving on to a bigger model by the time the old finish has worn anyway!

 

[carego]

Its a dark brown that won't match the restt of the teak. Thx anyway.

 

[carego]

Sanded....used a stripper. Took down to bare wood two times with same result. One golden amber and one dark brown. Will try product you recommended. If that doesn't work will replace both. Thx