Manufacturer mislabeling creates confusion about various woodworking finishes. Oils and oil/varnish blends may be called Antique Oil, Danish oil, teak oil or some other name. Wiping varnish is something different (it cures hard), as is mineral oil (it doesn’t dry). Depending on the brand, teak oil may be linseed, tung or mineral oil, or an oil/varnish blend. Many teak oils claim to be UV resistant, but testing disputes this. Ultimately, the name “teak oil” on the label is meaningless and indicates nothing about what’s inside the container.
Key Takeaways:
- Drying oil and varnish dry differently, while mineral oil doesn’t dry at all.
- Because it resists decay from sun, rain and saltwater, teak is often used outdoors and on boats.
- The label “teak oil” has no meaning, as it is used for many types of oil and varnish.
“Some brands claim to be formulated specifically for teak and other oily woods, but they don’t dry better, which is what you would want for an oily wood that retards the drying of oils and varnishes.”
Read more: https://www.popularwoodworking.com/flexner-on-finishing-woodworking-blogs/teak-oil-what-is-it/
