Expert: Jamie Yocono - 5/16/2009

Question
Hi Jamie,

We have solid teak furniture throughout the house (Living room, bedroom, dining room, and family room).  Our dining room table is also teak but has a clearcoat on it.  I would like to strip the clearcoat and expose the teak and then rub in teal oil.  Can this process be successful?  I am after a more natural look and a better match to the rest of the furniture.

Thanks for your time.

Answer
Hi Larry,

You're on the right track - if you want your teak furniture to feel more like real wood, you must strip off the existing finish and then apply teak oil.

There are two types of finishes - surface ones and penetrating ones. I suspect that while the surface finish on your table offers superior protection, it feels plastic-like. Stripping it and applying a penetrating finish like teak oil will make the table feel softer and more like wood, than plastic. Sweet.

You must, however, completely remove the existing finish. You can do it by stripping, or by sanding. But anything that remains on the wood will keep the oil from absorbing. So take care to do a thorough job.

Once the wood is stripped, I would sand it using sandpaper up to 220 grit. That will leave you with a perfectly prepared surface to absorbing the oil. While you're applying the oil, if you notice any area where that you've missed, you can wet sand it, using some wet-or-dry sandpaper and a bit of the oil. Oil the wood for a good 20 minutes, saturating any area that looks dry. Keep the surfaces flooded, they will keep absorbing the oil. After 20 minutes, wipe it completely dry.

Repeat a day later. I would think 2-3 coats will be perfect.

Please make sure you dispose of your rags according to the directions on the can. They can spontaneously ignite. So be careful. Once they're dry, you're OK, but while they're wet, they're dangerous.

Good luck, write back if you have any other questions. This is an easy process, put on some good music and enjoy yourself!


Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com