Total Boat Teak Oil is used to restore teak to its natural golden color. Originally developed for marine teak on boats, this product has also become quite popular for those wishing to treat teak outdoor furniture. Furthermore, it can be used on other types of hardwoods and softwoods such as mahogany, maple, acacia, cedar and eucalyptus. You could apply it to indoor furniture as well.
How to use Total Boat Teak Oil
- Total Boat Teak Oil is easy to apply using a brush, sponge, or cloth. In addition, you should be wearing rubber gloves and working in a well-ventilated area—preferably outdoors or in an open garage.
- Before oiling, you should clean the teak wood and allow it to dry fully. If you have sanded the wood prior to oiling, make sure to take extra care to remove all of the dust from the surface before you oil.
- Brush in the direction of the wood grain, trying to use just enough to thoroughly coat the wood surface. Spread the teak oil evenly to avoid creating any pools.
- When the wood has been completely coated, give it about 20-30 minutes to sink in.
- Then brush over the wood surface with a cloth rag to absorb any excess oil. This step is important because excess oil sitting on the wood surface is the initial cause for many problems that people encounter with teak oil. Essentially, it creates ripe conditions for mildew growth.
- A single coat is often sufficient. But if you desire a second coat you can apply one now, following the steps above.
- Finally, allow the teak wood to dry completely. For furniture, you’ll generally want to wait 24 hours before using it.
- CAUTION!—It is extremely important that you soak used rags in water and then allow to air-dry fully before disposing in the garbage. When oil-soaked rags are stored all bunched up, they have been known to spontaneously combust.
Check out this demonstration video to see just how simple it is to use:
My thoughts on Total Boat Teak Oil
To clear up confusion that many people have about teak oil, I want to point out that the term “teak oil” is a marketing name and does not indicate that the product contains oil from the teak tree. Most teak oils are composed of primarily linseed oil with the addition of solvents to help penetrate wood.
In this case, Total Boat Teak Oil contains the solvent Naphtha, which is a heavy petroleum distillate. This is the ingredient that can make it flammable, so take proper precautions when handling and storing, as well as when disposing of used rags.
You may want to re-oil every 2-6 months depending on the exposure that the wood gets and how much color you want to retain between applications.
Give your teak wood a good thorough scrub cleaning at least once a year. This will bring back a good deal of color prior to oiling. If the level of fading has progressed too far, you can “re-set” the wood by lightly sanding away the very top layer.
Overall, Total Boat Teak Oil is a highly satisfying product, with over 80% of Amazon reviewers giving it 5 out of 5 stars.