How to Apply Teak Oil

How can one apply teak oil on indoor furniture

Both outdoor and indoor furniture benefit from teak wood oil. Both water and mold are not a problem for it. Remove any wax or polish finishes from the wood surface with Wax and Polish Remover, and any varnish ends with Fine Wood Stripper. Ensure the surface is tidy, dry, and dust-free.

You can spread teak Oil with UV with a brush or a lint-free cotton towel. Let the oil soak in for up to 15 minutes before wiping away any excess with a clean, lint-free cloth. Inability to do so will prevent future coatings from penetrating and result in a sticky surface. 

Apply additional applications as necessary; the number of coats needed will determine how dry or damaged the wood is. 

Allow a 24-hour gap between coats and allow the last layer to be substantial before applying the next. On both interior and external woods, we suggest a minimum of three coats. Between applications, rub lightly with Ultra Fine Steel Wool (Grade 0000) or extra-fine abrasive paper for optimal results. When working on outdoor furniture, use abrasive paper.

Can one use teak oil on outdoor furniture?

Teak is the most challenging, durable, and robust of hardwoods, making it an excellent choice for long-lasting outdoor furniture. Since the Middle Ages, it has been helpful in shipbuilding and is still beneficial today to build ships and high-end yachts and boats.

The most refined oil to use on outdoor garden furniture is teak oil. It provides exceptional weather and water protection and assists teak wood (used in most outdoor furniture) maintain its wonderful honey patina. While oiling other types of wood can be beneficial, most manufacturers advise against putting teak oil on outdoor furniture. It can also cause long-term damage to the wood.

Can you use teak oil on any wood?

Teak oil can be applied to various woods, although it works best on hardwoods related to teak, such as eucalyptus, shorea, and acacia. It’s not a good idea to use teak oil on pine. This drier wood type will absorb a lot of moisture, and the boiled linseed oil in the mix will encourage mold growth. Linseed oil, varnish, mineral spirits, and occasionally Tung oil is one of the ingredients to make the oil.

Teak oil before and after

When teak wood is freshly cut or sanded, it has a beautiful golden tone. However, it fades to a grey color over time. This process is accelerated by exposure to the elements. Teak oil protects teak from weathering while slowing down the natural greying process. Teak oil is mainly valuable to cover outside wood furniture and wooden boat parts.

Applying teak oil on a boat

1. Remove any existing finishes.

2. Using a paintbrush or rag, apply teak oil parallel to the grain.

3. Wait 30 minutes before applying another coat of oil.

4. Wipe the surface dry after 15 minutes.

5. Let the oil sit for 8 to 10 hours.

How long does teak oil take to dry

Allow 24 hours for any teak oil-treated furniture to cure entirely before utilizing. Depending on the brand, it may take 4-6 hours for the teak oil to dry to the touch.

How to spread teak oil on outdoor furniture

To revitalize the wood:

• Apply additional coats as desired, providing adequate drying time between coats.
• Working with the wood grain, spread freely with a lint-free cloth, natural bristle brush, or short nap roller.
• Remove any extra Teak Oil after 10 minutes.
• Allow 2-4 hours for drying.

How to apply teak oil to cedar

Teak oil is valuable for indoor and outdoor furniture made of dense timbers like mahogany, cedar, teak, and other foreign hardwoods. Outdoor furniture made of cedar has a long history, and some unfinished cedar pieces are necessary indoors. The longevity of cedar is due to its natural resistance to insects, disease, and water-induced decay. Still, a protective coating of oil can improve the wood grain and extend the life of the furniture.

• To remove any dust, wipe the furniture with a rag. If the cedar feels rough in spots or is discoloured, softly sand the wood using fine-grit or superfine-grit sandpaper or a soft sanding sponge following the grain. To eliminate sanding dust, wipe the wood again.
• Place the furniture outside or in a garage on several newspapers or drop cloth layers. Open all windows, including using fans to ventilate the room if you’re working indoors.
• Apply a thick, dripping-wet application of teak oil to the wood and allow it to soak in for 30 minutes. It doesn’t matter what kind of brush you use, but a broad, thick wood-finish applicator brush with fine bristles will spread more oil in one stroke. 
• Coat the wood on all sides except the bottoms of the legs, which will stick to the newspaper or drop cloth if not coated.
• Rub the oil into the wood in a grain-following motion with a lint-free cloth, then wipe away any excess fat with a clean towel.
• Allow the furniture to dry overnight using the oil-soaked rags spread out on newspapers or a drop cloth. Do not wad up the rags or throw them away.
• After the initial coat of oil has dried, softly sand the furniture with ultrafine-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge. Operate in the direction of the grain of the wood. Oil can bring out the grain of the wood, and little sanding can smooth off the rough texture.
• Using a lint-free rag, wipe away the sanding dust.
• Apply another thick application of teak oil to the wood and rub it in with a rag. Allow 30 minutes for the oil to sit before wiping away the excess with a clean rag. Allow another 30 minutes for more oil to rise to the surface before wiping it away.
• Allow the rags to dry overnight on the furniture.
• Apply at least one additional coat of oil, allowing each coat to dry completely before proceeding. Continue to softly sand off rough patches before applying extra coats of oil if it isn’t soft enough. Further sanding is not required because the wood should be smooth enough. The final coat of oil should be worked in and wiped away rather than sanded.

How many coats of teak to apply?

It depends on the wood’s location and condition. Two oil applications are usually sufficient for finish and protection on new or newly scrubbed and sanded teak. Periodic maintenance coats for timber exposed to the elements can be applied as required throughout the season.