October 4, 2023
At this point, I bet that you want to oil your indoor furniture. If you do, begin by ascertaining that your working table is dry and clean. Then, grab a paintbrush that has wide bristles and get ready to put on teak oil on the surface. Now, brush the wood’s surface in equal strokes until seeing a matte appearance on your furniture. Oil cannot pass through it.
You might want to ask about the expert-recommended teak wood finish for indoor furniture. It is wood lacquer. This gives the wood furniture a slightly lighter consistency as compared to other finishes you see in the market. When compared to varnish, shellac, and penetrates, wood lacquer is better. In addition to consistency, a wood lacquer is more user-friendly because it dries up quickly. It can give you several results -be it high gloss, medium, or satin.
Now, can you imagine yourself using oil in your teak furniture?
Here’s another thing. Putting oil on teak furniture does not safeguard the wood furniture from any damage. This is not necessary, I tell you. Do you know that teaks generate oil on their own? Teak furniture manufacturers discourage us to scrub any processed solvents into it.
Most Recommended Teak Oils for Indoor Furniture
1) STAR BRITE Premium Gold Teak Oil
With this teak oil, you need not worry about the difficult application. You can use this product once a year to see brand new-like furniture. I utilize this oil stain on my working deck. Amazingly, drips of oil stain on my deck help preserve it. That being said, I was hitting two birds in one stone- (1) replenishing the luster in my furniture and (2) preserving my deck.
This product can even be applied to leave your hands soft. Honestly, this is my personal choice for preserving wood patio furniture. A 32-ounce bottle of this product is enough for eight wooden chairs and a huge wooden dining table when applied munificently.
2) AquaTeak Premium Teak Oil
The unique formula that makes up AquaTeak Teak Oil improves a teak wood’s natural appearance. This same applies to fine woods. It is fantastic to know that this product is environment-friendly. This premium-grade oil’s ultra-refined formulation goes deep down the wood, providing it with rich and deep luminance and acts against drying and weathering. It keeps teak accessories and furniture brand-new looking most especially when used with AquaTeak Teak Cleaner and Brightener.
3) Minwax 671004444 Teak Oil
This product helps your dense wood and furniture stay protected against the damaging UV rays and moisture. Furthermore, it penetrates the pores which result in improved wood grain.
Teak oils help bring back the wood’s natural richness and warmth.
4) GTO-125 Golden Teak Oil
A Golden Teak Oil is hailed as the most sought-after teak oil for boaters. This product is used to beautify and preserve the teak’s golden color. It works by embracing the wood fibers deep down its surface. It locks the moisture out which, in turn, maintains the natural integrity of the wood. Failure to oil the furniture for a long time dries out the wood.
5) Tried and True Danish Oils
When we speak of the best teak oil alternative, you are referring to Danish oil. This product is safe to be applied even on toys, cutting boards, and kids’ furniture. Moreover, it can be applied to cabinets, kitchenware, and interior woodwork. Granted with FDA approval (FDA 21 Sec. 175.300), it is “safe” even for food contact surfaces. I was very impressed with its application result after trying it out in our shop. Aside from that, Danish oil is economical and so easy to use. It is pure and made of fairly polymerized linseed oil. This oil gives wood its beauteously satin shine.
What Do You Need to Know About Teak?
A native to Myanmar, India, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia (South Asian countries), teaks are conspicuous everywhere. You can see teak plantations almost on all sides of the country. It is prized for its resistivity to insects and fungal decay. You need not worry about marine borers and termites with teak furniture.
In addition, teak can withstand decay caused by saltwater, rain, and the sun’s heat. This is the reason why teak has gained popularity in the marine environment for centuries now. On top of that is its popularity for outdoor furniture and decks.
Teak’s natural color ranges from tan to medium brown. Its grains look like walnut. When it is exposed to saltwater, rain, or sunlight’s ultraviolet rays, unfinished teak becomes silvery-gray in color. This is a common characteristic of all woods, though. This discoloration happens because the teak’s extractives and color-providing lignin degrade. This leaves nothing but cellulose on the surface. I’m sure that everybody hopes to avoid this problem with wood discoloration. This is where teak oil application comes into play. This process extends the teak’s life.
There are different teak oil labels in the market today. Teak oils are designed to be applied on exterior woods like those in outdoor furniture, decks, and boats. Such a product is also perfect for interior woods which include hardwoods and boat interiors. Lastly, it works as a polishing product for Scandinavia teak furniture’s interior.
Must-Know Facts About “Teak Oils” on Furniture
During the mid of the 20th century, Danish furniture wood designers introduced teak in the limelight. Although this furniture finish is normally sold as oil, this one has proven its worth as a catalyzed long-wearing varnish. Typically, this furniture isn’t as shiny as its other counterparts. It is recommended to apply it in thin so that it matches the non-film-building oils to the naked eyes. This time, trust me because I have spent a couple of years working on this thing in Denmark way back 1970s. Spraying a catalyzed varnish on teak furniture was my thing back then.
Danes are less-than-honest marketers but not fools. They perfectly understand the possibility of marketing a line of furniture that can prevent liquid penetration despite its thin or soft finish. In as early as six months, an oil-finished tabletop can look awful. But Danes took advantage of teak is an oily wood by nature.
Adding to its mystique, Danes sold “teak oils” that are specially formulated for polishing furniture. These oils have triumphantly captivated many furniture owners’ attention. It is believed to replenish the natural oils in that teak furniture. Take note that this can only happen when a catalyzed varnish is used. This kind of varnish is ideal to prevent liquid penetration in furniture.
As you can see, ten types of teak oils are sold in the market these days. There are teak oils for interior and exterior teaks. These include hardwood in some circumstances too. Scan Care and Behlen aren’t suitable for exterior use.
When we speak of interior teak oils, I’m sure that you keep an eye on the ones that are fast and better drying. This isn’t a hard thing to achieve. You can add more driers that can counteract the teak’s oily resins. These oil resins are responsible for delaying the oil from drying.
However, there is that one notable element about Briwax (a varnish)and teak oils. These things are slow-drying in glass and on any surface. Yes, I still support the idea of using varnish of any type of oil in the wood furniture’s exterior and interior, nothing beats the idea of getting a fast-drying oil for your furniture.
What’s the Difference Between Teak Oil and Danish Oil?
Danish oil and teak oil are pretty similar. The two oils both comprised mineral spirits, linseed oil, and varnish. These elements are responsible for making these oils so easy to apply and durable. In detail, Danish oils give wooden surfaces a layer of protection from scratches, stains, chemical damage, and heat damage.
In addition, Danish oil makes the best alternative for teak furniture that is situated indoors. Similar to teak oils, Danish oil is comprised of tung oil, rosewood, linseed, and other components. When you buy this kind of oil for your furniture, always opt for the ones labeled as “natural“. Steer clear from colored Danish oils because they can alter the color of your wood furniture.
FAQs
How Often Do We Have to Oil Teak Furniture?
Well-oiled teak furniture is capable of resisting rings and stains. A general rule: If it looks dry, oil it. You have to oil this furniture more often at first. In time, you can have them oiled once every six months. This is to keep your teak furniture good-looking and stain-resistant.
Can Teak Oils Tarnish the Wood?
To retain the natural color of the wood, teak and Danish oils are the most highly recommended oil finishes to grab. Though these oils can make the wood slightly darker or yellow, such discoloration happens when the teak wood is left under the damaging heat of the sun. This is the reason why furniture owners put bleach on the wood before applying oil to it. The oil darkens the wood, that’s legit.
What are the Secrets to New-looking Teak Furniture?
Here are some secrets to restoring weathered teak. First, use a teak cleaner in cleaning the furniture. Second, rub on Golden Sealer to it. This is to keep the furniture from re-graying. Just a piece of information, though. Teak sealer is an eco-friendly and water-based product. It does not harm lawn, plants, or animals. Now, get ready for the “initial two-coat application”. Lastly, conserve the golden appearance of your teak furniture by re-coating at least once a year.
What are the Steps in Sealing Teak Furniture?
In applying a teak sealant, leave out your teak furniture under the sun’s heat for two weeks. This opens up the wood grain. This process aids the sealer to follow through the right sealing process. The next process is spraying the area with the sealer. Make your hand as steady as possible. Lastly, use a lint-free cloth in rubbing the sealer into the wood.
Jason is a 40-year-old woodworker, carpenter and author who have been involved in the woodworking and woodcraft industry with 17 years of experience. He is expertise in technical aspects, woodcraft and furniture building projects.