teak sealant goop question

[seattleboatguy]

I think I'm finally ready to try to spruce up this poor hatch over my aft cabin. I thought that before I heat gun the old varnish/paint/whatever, I would replace all the black goop between the teak strips. Can I just use something like Life Calk from West Marine, or do I have to use black goop that is specifically made for teak, such as the products from Teak Decking Systems?

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. S. "...before I heat gun the old varnish/paint/whatever, I would replace all the black goop..." Might be your choice of wording but the "goop" should be replaced as a last step. Better minds than mine will have what they have had success with. I haven't done any teak seaming for years and I'm pretty sure the technology has improved.

 

[Comodave]

However you decide to strip the varnish, you should replace the caulk with a teak specific product. I like Teak Deck Systems 440, I think that is the number. You need to get all the old caulking out, sand the grooves and then wipe with acetone just prior to caulking. I taped the seams with blue painters tape to help control the mess. After caulking strike off the excess and pull the tape. Then do a final sanding to get the caulking flat. Then finish with your varnish or finish of choice. Have fun!

 

[seattleboatguy]

Greetings,
Mr. S. "...before I heat gun the old varnish/paint/whatever, I would replace all the black goop..." Might be your choice of wording but the "goop" should be replaced as a last step. Better minds than mine will have what they have had success with. I haven't done any teak seaming for years and I'm pretty sure the technology has improved.

If I need to sand the black goop smooth after application, I would think that might mess up new varnish. But, I'm new at this. What do the rest of you guys think about the proper order for stripping caulking varnishing?

 

[Comodave]

Go to Teak Decking Systems web site, they have directions there. We did the finish last because you do have to sand the caulk to get it flush with the decking.

 

[jleonard]

Yes, TDS 440 is the stuff to use.
You can make a tool to scrape out the old caulk. Take a flat tip screwdriver with the blade as wide as the grooves, maybe just a scosh narrower. Heat it up with a propane torch and bend it a little past 90 degrees. See picture.
Then sand the grooves afterward.
I would do the varnish work after the caulk has been sanded.

 

[jleonard]

And oh yes a sea of blue tape required. Just make sure you think about pulling it off and in what order.
Have fun!

 

[Comodave]

Ah, yes the blue tape...

 

[timb]

i did this over the summer .i had a problem . i epoxied and varnished the wood then put in the new sealant and sanded.that ruined the varnish . then i varnished again careful to miss the seams. varnish will Not stick to the sealant. if i ever do it again i'm going to fill the seams with black epoxy then clear epoxy and varnish.

 

[timb]

i don't think it turned out good but it is a lot better than before

 

[timb]

I would try this next time although it looks like it could be done better than this video.