Refinish wood swim step instructions

[Blofeld]

Do I need to sand the wood before I apply teak oil? 

How do I apply the teak oil without making a huge mess?

Tips?

[foxriverat]

It depends how bad of shape the teak is in whether it needs to be sanded or not. You may be able to just use a cleaner as in this system. http://www.starbrite.com/item/premium-teak-care-kit  Apply teak oil to a rag and rub into teak so you don`t have a mess.

[Skiphreak]

+1 on the starbrite 3-step. Always fantastic results. Have never needed to sand before applying, but my swim deck has always been in good shape. 

[MDB1056]

I’ve used a palm sander (mouse) just lightly on occasion and then oiling. Just apply with a cheap 1” chip brush . I usually pull the pins and put the platform on horses in the sun. Give it a couple of light coats to soak in . At 31 and 40 yrs old they both still look fabulous. +1 on Starbright 

[Shell]

I have refinished at least 3-4 platforms to use as a bar tops , tables and a shelf. All the real platforms I have picked up have been in terrible condition and I have had to sand (hours) first then teak with a cheap 1” brush at least 3 times out in the sun. They have all come out amazing, like brand new. Obviously, the sanding is the hardest part, and if the platform has slots, the easiest way to to do it by hand in this areas. It is not a quick job, but the end result pay off! Good luck!

Edited February 10, 2023 by Shell

[Mastercrafter]

Safety sally here to remind us that teak dust from sanding is particularly bad to breath in. Wear a mask, respirator, etc 🙃

[KRoundy]

@Shell Nice slantback! 

[BraceMaker]

Avoid sanding as much as you can.  

Sanding physically removes wood so eventually that's just going to wear out your platform if at all possible just remove the platform and scrub with the various cleaners and brighteners until you get the wood lightened up.  Then evaluate sanding.

Finally the best bit of recommendation I've had over the years I've been doing this is that teak oil isn't like "teak wood juice" its a mixture of other wood finishes like boiled linseed, tung oil, or simplly mineral oil.

My solution has long been to use a mixture of the starbrite teak oil with 50-50 boiled linseed.  And then to apply that with a chip brush and then use a stainless or bronze wool to buff it out till it isn't glossy.

[Shell]

@KRoundythat WAS my baby! Out with the old in with the NEW!

[KRoundy]

@ShellNice! I actually have a similar story. 🙂 Traded in my '93 on a '16 Open Bow 200 back in 2019. Have put 100s of hours on her since and I have loved every second. That new Ski Nautique is AWESOME. 

 

Edited February 10, 2023 by KRoundy

[Mastercrafter]

@Shell woah woah woah.. nice Nautique! Is that staying on Big Lake?

 

[Shell]

@MastercrafterYES it is!

[Mastercrafter]

Okay I’ll see ya there! Lol. 
 

Congrats on the tug. Beauty. 

[Horton]

[Horton]

[MitchellM]

1 hour ago, Horton said:

That's one of the best things I've seen in a long time.  Awesome!!

[markn]

No need to sand.  Liquid caustic (naOH).   Not the industrial 50% stuff, but a 5-10% solution and wear gloves. Apply, brush in, rinse and apply teak oil.

[Horton]

@markn I used the star bright kit as mentioned at the top of the thread in addition to sanding ahead of time. It looks really good but it's not perfect. if I was going to do it again I would sand more and do that first step of the starbright kit maybe a little more aggressively.

Probably no one else can see the issues but I can see where some of the damaged wood was removed by the chemical leaving the finish less than mirror smooth. I can also see little spots where the chemical didn't quite remove enough.

I guess I need to accept the fact that I'm going to put my feet on this thing and put coffee cup rings on it by tomorrow.

[LOTW]

That is AWESOME!!!!
I've been looking for a suitable platform to create my own for years now, just can't find one. Not for an unrediculous price that is.

[Drago]

Where's the boat??!!

[Horton]

@Drago somehow this platform is an orphan. Oddly enough it is not a ProStar platform. 

[chaloux]

On a related topic, I just learned that I can buy a new custom built platform for my 94 Sport Nautique. www.correctcraftfan.com/store/ has one that is jatoba wood vs teak, and www.teakworldenterprises.com/collections/swim-platforms lists having a teak option for the Sport. 

 

Any opinions on jatoba vs teak? Price is very similar. My platform is dead, missing some pieces, screws starting to poke through from too much sanding from previous owners. 

Edited March 25, 2023 by chaloux

[MitchellM]

On 2/9/2023 at 5:44 PM, foxriverat said:

It depends how bad of shape the teak is in whether it needs to be sanded or not. You may be able to just use a cleaner as in this system. http://www.starbrite.com/item/premium-teak-care-kit  Apply teak oil to a rag and rub into teak so you don`t have a mess.

The starbrite kit was a great recommendation.  I just refinished the swim platform on my new to me boat.  2005 and the owner is not sure anything had ever been done to the platform.

Here are the photos.  No sanding was done.

Two coats of teak oil.