Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

What are you guys using to re-do your teak? I know there a few systems/methods of doing this. Would love to hear pros/cons.thanks

Re: Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

I have always used sudsy ammonia, scrubbed it with the grain with a white scotchbrite. Then mist it with the hose to keep it wet, the longer it stays wet the cleaner the wood gets. Then hose it off a few times. If it's real bad then sometimes I use TSP first and rinse well. Be careful with both, TSP is a dry commercial grade detergent that you dilute yourself. I believe ammonia displaces oxygen so don't go sticking your head in a bucket of it. Both are cheap and give great results

Then just pick if ya want a epoxy based finish, a sealer finish...natural finish...urethane varnish...spar varnish..... oiled finish.

It's a preference thing for the most part and all have their pros and cons. One thing I personaly have never understood is when people put a finish on the walking suraces that are teak. Not so much a smaller boat problem. Teak is an amazing natural nonskid and works best natural imo, if it's to be walked on .

Re: Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

I use the sudsy ammonmia w/ TSP too... I could not find ANY sudsy amnmonia recently so I made some:

8 parts ammonia : 1 part water : (2) spoonfuls of detergent (DAWN)

One difference is that I scrub against the grain... This prevents scrubbing out the soft parts of the wood ( thus creating even more surface area for dirt etc ). I have never seen a negative to this...

I too leave it 'au natural, and during the season, I'll scrub it lightly with salt water ( and leave the salt water on in the sun for a few hours ). It always has a clean-looking, light silvery-grey color. Looks good.

BTW: this is the way many of the Montauk fishing boats take care of their teak ( got this from an Old-Salt out there )

IMHO - oiling teak is like washing a un-garaged, black car - nothing looks better at first - but it's too short lived

Re: Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

The easiest way I have found to clean teak is with a powerwasher. The teak turns grey mainly due to dirt. If you use chemical's you have to be careful of everything around the wood. Some of the grain is softer than others, so use enough pressure to remove the grey not the wood. I let it dry and oil it. Throughout the season wash it and re-oil once in a while. I think I re-oiled it twice last season and it was in the Florida sun for half the time.

Re: Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

A pressure washer would be about the last thing I'd use. Teak naturally turns a silvery color and is it's natural color after a little time. Ammonia is the main ingredient in many teak cleaners and is not hard on gelcoat or paint. Gelcoat is more forgiving than awlgrip with harsher chemicals.

Re: Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

That is why they make chocolate and vanilla. I like mine looking finished.

Re: Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

I realize that, I was responding to what you had said about dirt turning teak gray. Wasn't making any decisions for ya, lol.

Re: Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

I like using the 2 part Snappy Teak, is this the same stuff as suddsy amonia?

Re: Best system for Cleaning/staining teak
 

I use that, too, plus Semco Teak Sealer. Lasts for a good year without fading/greying. If re-applied about every 9 months, you can go years without stripping the teak.