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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Best finish for fresh-water boat gunnels

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Expert: - 10/4/2009


Question
We've been given a fiberglass rowing boat with oak gunnels. The previous owner tung-oiled the gunnels once a year for the past 10 or so years. We're not convinced this is the best finish for a boat that is kept outside all summer (flipped over, but still). What kind of finish could we put over a wood surface that has been treated this way for 10 years, that will provide good protection against the salty-air of our coastal location and fresh water lake rowing? Or is tung oil the way to go? Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Lora, a Tung oil finish is a penetrating finish, and if applied regularily will offer pretty good, durable protection that won't flake chip, or peel. Pure Tung oil is not a good choice, a modified Tung oil product like WaterLox is a good choice...the only other choice would be an epoxy like West System, followed by a varnish....or a Marine grade Varnish product. All of these will eventually fail, especially if constantly exposed to the elements. In order to change direction now, you'd need to strip the gunwales, sand them, and then refinish them with at least 3-4 coats of the chosen finish, with proper cure time between coats. All exposed wood will expand and contract regularily,soak up and release moisture, and this is what will eventually cause the finish to fail....it's just the nature of wood, no matter what you coat it with. Since the wood has been finished with the Tung oil finish for so long, you could wet sand the surface with 320 -400 grit wet/dry paper and more Tung oil product until smooth and even, then wipe off the extra, and after that dries for 18-24 hours, apply another coat, etc. Follow the directions AND precautions on the can as always.Poke around on their site for answers and info....post back if need be- regards- Greg

http://www.waterlox.com/site/559/default.aspx

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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