On 6/5/2016 12:58 PM, Karen & Smiley wrote: Karen & Smiley, A card scraper is an easier way to remove old varnish than using sandpaper. It is faster. Card scrapers are available at any woodworkers supply store. They are a flat plate about 3 X 5 inches, and after sharpening the edges, these become cutting tools and are used for removing the old finish, or to finish raw wood prior to reapplying a coating. The trick with card scrapers is learning how to properly file the edges square and then to raise a burr on both edges using something like the round shank of a screwdriver. As you run this shank over the filed edge at about a 5 degree angle, the round shaft will pull a burr which becomes the cutting edge. If your teak is weathered (grey) then you need teak cleaner to remove the grey. These are available at places like WEST Marine. Just read the instructions very carefully; one part is an acid and the second is a base to neutralize the acid. They do a good job of cleaning weathered teak - but tape off and protect deck areas against drops and inadvertent brush touches. OFF CENTER HARBOR website has a number of excellent How-To videos on painting and finishing a boat, but only various references to teak work in their various videos. Sign on with them and get access to many excellently done videos on a multitude of boat subjects. Maintaining vanished teak is a never ending process. As soon as you have the slightest crack in your varnish surface, you have to touch it up and seal it again. The teak aficionados do that by having a nail polish bottle with its small brush, filled with varnish, so that any teak dings can immediately be repaired. If you don't do that, moisture gets into the crack, the teak in the area starts to become grey, and you are faced with removing all the old finish and starting from bare wood again. The pros talk about a minimum of 6 coats of varnish on teak to properly protect it. Teak oil makes the job a lot easier, but if you finally give up on the maintenance of the teak, just let it become a uniform grey and be done with it. Teak that is in good shape is a joy to behold, but there comes a time when you say, "I'd rather go sailing than spend my time maintaining the teak". Ciao, Connie
Just hired two 17 year olds to sand down my teak so I can re-varnish it all. The hard part to me is all that crazy sanding. Anyway I was not happy with how my old varnish held up so any suggestions and application tips please spread them my way :)
Thanks Another Wrinkle M 15 #616
Karen & Smiley
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