There are lots of Teak finishes out there. I've tried Cetol, oil's and some Helmsman varnish. Not real happy with any of them.
What have you all used?
Jim
Semco! Love it! I will never go back to varnish or Cetol.
I switched to Semco about a 2 years ago. You can rub it on with a cloth, NO TAPING! Plus I love the way it looks. I get compliments often and it's 100 times easier to maintain than anything else I have ever tried.
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Here is Pan Dragon with the Gold Semco
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Jim,
Epifanes, and only Epifanes. I too have tried many types and brands and have settled on Epifanes. I have even spent the big bucks ($90 per quart) on Awl Grips two part fancy dancy finish Awl Brite. It looked good, not great, but only lasted for two years and then water got under it in places and it was imposable to get off. Because it was a two-part finish any chemical based stripper would not phase it. It was supposed to be the answer to all of our problems. Yea right...
Epifanes gives me the color I like, fills at an excellent pace, keeps a reasonable wet edge for application ease and has a reasonable life span. Because I have used it so often, for me is very predictable in its application properties. It is very durable and I have even used it on cabin soles with excellent results. I even have it on an oak top on an antique that we use as a bathroom vanity, and it has been bullet proof for over 5 years now without any maintenance (indoors).
I do have a few application suggestions about this product however to obtain best results.
1). Buy the stuff in the little cans, it costs more but it is well worth it. Like many products the first time you open the can it is at its best. If you buy a quart, by the third or forth time you re-open the can its consistency changes and changes for the worst.
2) Like most varnish it does not like to be applied in hot direct sunlight. Sunlight is OK, but hot sun is a problem. If the wood is open grained like oak or some mahogany, the wood will outgas as it warms up and you will get air bubbles as it dries. If you try to force cure in it hot sun, it will wrinkle.
3) If you get a sag or run, you must wait a few days before you can fix the problem. This being said I have removed a sag by slicing it off with a sharp razor blade the next day and kept right on reapplying.
4) I typically give most everything 4 to 5 coats. As with most varnish, the gloss finish contains lots more solids and builds and fills the quickest. If you are going for the satin or rubbed look finish, fill with gloss and then apply the last coat or so in that desired sheen.
5) It does apply nicely with a conventional spray gun, and I just use plain old mineral spirits to cut it for spray reduction. On occasion I have used a higher quality reducer to allow it to flash quicker so that I could apply more coats faster, and have had excellent results. In all cases, a brushed finish gives better finish and is somewhat more durable. Done right it will look wet. I use el-cheap-o bristle disposable brushes to fill and a good brush to apply the top coats. I do not like foam brushes but know lots of people who get great results with them. You can wrap the wet brush in tin foil and keep in the refrigerator for a week or so with no problem. Saves cleaning and wear and tear on the good brush.
6) Ideally, a quick scuff with a 3M pad and a quick topcoat every year is the best way to go. If you want to dance with the devil, the stuff last very nicely for two or sometimes three seasons providing you catch the big dings and nicks. I am talking two north east seasons, although cold and snow does a job on varnish as well. I suspect in the tropics one year would be the safe limit. Once water gets under the finish, you will have to sand and fill that area. For the most part, the repair color will match but that is a gamble.
The best part of Epifanes is that it is tung oil based. This keeps it relatively "soft" for a long time. I do not mean spongy soft, but somewhat flexible enough to withstand the day to day bumps and bruises without cracking. You can tell a boat is done with Epifanes when you walk downwind of it in on a hot summer day, and you can smell the tung oil simmering out of it. It smells wonderful! Hope this helps...
Good Sailing... Dale Tanski
I do have to say Kevin.....you just might win the Pearson Teak contest! We all know I don't have a CHANCE because you know what I did to my teak! (in my own defense, my only option was to replace it and I'm boat broke after the refit to go cruising!)
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This photo was taken in La Paz over Christmas Break.
Ah shucks, Thanks Rich!
Not to stray from the topic... I had the oportunity to work on a Pearson 36 pilot house for the past few days. It's very strange because it is defnately a 365 hull, but everything over the toe rail is completely different. I always wondered if I would ever see one. The layout is much like a small 1980's trawler. Not really my cup of tea, but I did like the engine access though! You can climb all over it!
I too use SEMCO. Easy to apply, looks great.
Thanks your comments. I had a friend tell me about TekQua, ever heard of it?