Thompson's Water Seal

[Seneca]

Anybody ever try Thompson's Water Seal on laid teak decks? If so, any results worth relating?

[wizbang 13]

I spray it on the DOCK where I keep my boat, oldest wood dock in Gig harbor, but no, not the boat. It do keep the creeping green slime at bay.

[Thorne]

I've only used it on plywood outdoor stage pieces, and then only because it is cheap. Doesn't it come out all white and sticky?

Please tell us why you are considering a cheap porch sealer for expensive-material marine use?

[Bob Cleek]

Yes, I have, many times, although I prefer Flood's "WoodLife," for no good reason, really, just habit.

You MUST bleach the teak properly first, of course, using oxalic acid, and then rinse well, with soapy water to neutralize the acid. When the teak is all uniformly honey/bleached "white," you apply your Thompson's or WoodLife, brushing it on. It will soak in like it was water. The sealer will bring out some of the honey color, so you won't exactly have that super-bleached white look at first, but it will look very nice. The sealer will retard weathering for a while, six or eight months, and eventually wear off due to abrasion and UV degradation. When that occurs, you simply bleach lightly, and reapply.

If you are really crazy about the looks of your "bare" teak, this is a good way to go. (I would NOT use anything with more solids in it, such as Cetol and so on, since it will build up and you'll have to eventually strip it off.) I've sort of quit doing it, though, since it isn't all that much of a hassle to bleach a bit more often (or let it go longer!). If all you are doing is bleaching, the bleach does the work. Swab it on, wait a few minutes and wash off.

[Seneca]

Thanks everyone! I'll take a look at woodLife. M