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View Full Version : Sprucing up unfinished teak cockpit sole...


Jeff Kelety
08-31-2002, 04:14 PM
The unfinished teak of my cockpit sole is looking a bit stained and smudged. How do you all freshen this up? My inclination is to just give it a good sanding, assuming most smudges and dirt aren't too deeply embedded in the grain. I know there's a chemical approach to this, but it seems just a easy to sand off a layer of gook.

What say ye?

Thanks - again.

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Just did a search, BTW, on "teak" and "clean". Some use the acid stuff. Some suggested just letting it be (a valid approach!). Some said take a scraper to it. Some said a bit of stripper. Seems like sanding off the dirty layer (since we're just talking about a few square feet) is reasonable.

Jeff

[ 08-31-2002, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Kelety ]
Chris Coose
08-31-2002, 08:02 PM
Let it be.
If you get used to sanding and scraping to attain a certain look, after some time you'll have removed enough wood to cause problems. Teak cockpit soles have a way of freshening themselves up with a regular salt water scrub.
Concordia..41
08-31-2002, 08:54 PM
IMHO sanding isn't the answer to a cleaning question. Do you sand the walls in your house when they get dirty???? How about the hood of your car????

Routine salt water washes with Joy dishsoap (recently I've used Simple Green and been really happy with it) will give it a uniform silver/gray that offsets the varnished areas nicely.

Cheers!

- M
Jeff Kelety
08-31-2002, 09:02 PM
<How about the hood of your car????>

You've seen my car, eh?

Well, I'll try salt water and simple green and see how it turns out.
Thomas Garber
08-31-2002, 09:17 PM
I would sand, then maybe a good teak oil; but wash the wood first, so you don't imbed any existing dirt.
Nicholas Carey
09-03-2002, 07:37 PM
Te-Ka is the teak cleaner of choice around here. It's a kind of nasty two-part cleaner that should be readily available -- try West Marine.

WARNING: will turn cured 5200 and other other polysulfide miracle goo adhesive/caulk/sealants into a, well, sticky mess. I think Detco two-part caulk will stand up to it, but I'd still do a test run first against scrap.