Like many tropical hardwoods, teak includes natural oils that protect it from rust, and that’s an important reason craftspeople use it in order to make boat decks and outdoor furniture. Teak oxidizes and turns grey quickly, and while some people find this attractive, others favor the honey-tan colors of new teak. You can often restore weathered teak just by massaging it, but when the discoloration goes deep, or when there’s a surface layer of mold, it might be easier to scrub it with a cleaner. Begin with a gentle cleaner and progress into more powerful ones.
Wash the walnut with an all-purpose cleaner to remove surface grime and dirt. This step is important for exterior furniture which has turned dark. If the piece is a uniform grey color, or it is an interior piece, you can probably skip this general cleaning.
Scour the timber with a gentle cleaner. Some possibilities are scouring powder and water, a mixture of 1 cup per day of ammonia and laundry detergent in a gallon of warm water or a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar in a gallon of warm water. Scrub lightly through the grain with a scouring pad or scrub brush.
Rinse the timber after scrubbing it and assess its situation. If you are happy with the colour, you can advance to sanding, however when the timber is still grey, you might need to advance to a cleaner.
Utilize a 1-part teak cleaner designed to remove deep stains. A typical product includes an abrasive powder along with a moderate acid, such as phosphoric or malic acid. Follow the directions on the container. If you want even more cleaning power, use a 2-part teak cleaner with more powerful caustics and acids. Wear rubber gloves and goggles when using 1- and 2-part cleaners, follow the directions carefully, and protect nearby furniture.
Rinse the timber after you have finished cleaning it and let it dry. Sand it with an orbital sander and 150-grit sandpaper. You are not sanding to modify the colour except to knock the grain and smooth the timber. After sanding, you might prefer to leave the timber unfinished, but it will soon begin to oxidize and discolor if you do. Prevent this by finishing the timber.
End interior walnut with walnut oil. Spread the oil with a cone, going with the grain of the timber. To maintain the natural wood colour, you might have to repeat this treatment every few months. You might even seal teak with just one coat of varnish diluted with 50 percent skinnier. This therapy provides a surface coating which prevents oxidation, but unlike oil, it may peel or chip .
Apply several coats of spar varnish to protect teak woodwork on boats or other places subject to extreme sun and moisture. Construct the end gradually by minding the initial 3 coats with thinner and applying thin coats with a paintbrush. Following the next coat dries, scuff-sand it with 220-grit sandpaper and coat it with three to four layers of full-strength varnish.