Need suggestions on platform rebuild

[TitanTn]

I'm stripping down my ole teak platform and hopefully going to end up with something beautiful after following Sybrmike's teak application process. But I have an issue.

After almost 30 years of applying teak oil, it has gathered in the crevices between slats and there's crud. I originally planned on separating every slat but after starting to pull it apart, every slat is nailed to the one before it. It takes almost 30 minutes per slat to pull it off and I'm nervous about breaking a slat. There are about 15 nails per slat.

So my question is, is it worth pulling every slat off at the risk of breaking a board? Think I can sand it enough between the slats while it's assembled? Anyone ever done this before?

[sybrmike]

My platform is much more open without as many long seams. I only had to take one support off of the bottom to properly reattach, but screws only. I did scrape & sand down between the beveled crevices as part of the prep. Scraped first, then heavy grit paper folded over a putty knife edge, then worked up to 220 grit. Lots of flushing with water & scrub brush and blowing with air in between passes since the paper gunked up quickly. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist at times, but this wasn't one of those times & yet still happy with the results. I don't think I would risk taking yours apart just to get in between the seams that nobody will see. Plus, if you go the turpentine mix route, the first few coats will really get down into the joints.

Be careful not to let the mix pool down in the crevice and dry there. Saturate & let it soak for a few hours before wiping it down - otherwise it will eventually dry to a gummy yet hard varnish like substance. I had to go back and scrape/sand a few places where this happened and on some drips/runs that dried on the underside, but mine was so dry I was really soaking it. Like all wood finishing, the prep makes all the difference.

[wotan2525]

How about a pressure washer/hotsy?

[TitanTn]

Thanks guys. I guess I am over thinking it and shouldn't go to the effort of splitting it apart, slat by slat. I just want to do the best job I can and not feel like I need to go through a similar process every spring. I'll follow your advice about not letting the liquid pool.

I can get the crud cleaned out, but the wood really needs to be sanded, so a pressure washer won't get me any further. I think the end results would look fantastic if I could separate every slat, but I need to go through with just cleaning the crud as best as I can and sand as much as I can. As Mike said, it should be close enough.

I think the biggest thing is that I needed permission to leave it together.

[Salty87]

the 2 part cleaner and a stiff brush should get most of that. i'd prob go with pressure washer on whatever is left. of course, use care so you don't have to sand afterward.

if you sand, you'll have to clean out the grain/pores....pressure washer or air compressor.

[sybrmike]

Careful with the pressure washer - could easily gouge the wood. I'd stick with paper, brush, and water/air hose.

[cadunkle]

Stiff plastic brush or soft brass brush to get the grooves/crevices. Worked fine on a teak platform I did on my last boat. Not perfect, but much better than it was. Still turned out a little dark between the slats but teak will never stay perfect unless it's your full time job. Gotta oil it a couple times per season after you get it done, and do the scrub with brush/rinse/dry/oil thing every season but it's a lot faster than the initial cleaning up of an old neglected platform. Here's my old one after brush/sand/oil one side. Only first coat of oil I believe.