You are here:

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Treating unfinished teak table

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/30/2010


Question
We recently bought an untreated teak indoor dining table.  We love the fact that it's untreated and have no problem allowing it to weather with age.  But we also realize that as durable as teak is, it needs some care.  We thought of applying some oil but do not want to change the natural look of the table.  Any ideas what's best to care for the table?  Also, what should we do with the occasional water and grease stain?

Answer
Hi Felicia, I doubt that your Teak table left the factory without at least a coat of Teak oil. If you decide not to treat it occasionally, it will pretty quickly turn Grey. Also, stains and discoloration will not be able to be removed, as without a finish, they will stain the wood.Teak oil soaks into the wood and hardens from within, unlike a varnish, poly, etc., which sits on top of the wood as a film. Teak oil will not produce a shiny finish like a surface finish, (unless applied too heavily or after 6 or more coats), and will not flake, chip, or peel. So you really can't have it both ways...you either let it alone and let it weather and turn Grey,(and it will start to check, crack, etc.) or you apply a yearly or semi yearly coat of Teak oil to it to protect it from the weather and spills, stains, etc..... Flood also makes a penetrating oil finish for outdoor furnishings that's very good.

http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-67141-Watco-Finish/dp/B00179362C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=...

http://www.flood.com/wood-care-solutions/products/view-product.jsp?productId=4

Hope that helps- regards- Greg

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.