Refinishing Teak Ships Wheel

[captmikecoin]

Does anyone have an easy method for removal of old varnish on a traditional spoked wheel. Mine is suffering from sun degradation and needs revarnishing. The real difficulty is getting the old varnish off and I am suspecting I'll need shares in an elbow grease company!

Cheers,

Mike

[keepondancin]

I would find a well ventilated space and use the most toxic solvent based remover you can find. A heat gun would be difficult with all the turnings on the wheel and the spokes. Another alternative if you are in an area where there is a furniture refinisher, is to take there and have them dip it and strip it. It is lots of hand work.

[zboss]

Funny... just today I was looking at my wheel and thinking the same thing. In the end, I think I will just end up replacing it with a folding wheel.

[deltaten]

Anecdotal, I know; but dip-n-strp will raise grain to the point that will cause gray hair to be pulled out ! Sanding enuff to get it all squared away will leave you with near half of what. was there originally

If it's not an instant gratification so. thing; just. use pro-grade/type furniture scrapers of varying shapes toremove finish. Ends up with minimal sanding and will not raise grain , unless ya go. the wrong way
It'll take a lot of time; butresults will be so much more satisfying than spending same time and ending up with a mess.

Best of luck

[Terra Nova]

Use a heat gun and scrapers.

[Boatyarddog]

Take your time, 1 spoke at a time, banco makes a nice small hand held scraper that I've done so much with I can't believe it.
Patience, is truly a virtue.
Heat gun, pulls off varnish pronto.



Sent from my iPad SV Cloud Duster

[captmikecoin]

Thanks to all for your advice. I've tried to find a professional dip stripper here in southern Spain but perhaps fortuitously, haven't found one. The main excuse I've been given is that noxious chemicals are involved which need all kinds of environmental permits. So thanks "deltaten" for the heads up. Anyway I need to consider too what effect the stripper will have on the chrome plated bronze boss.

So scraping and sanding it is although I'll need a new heat gun as the mica internal insulation on my old one has disintegrated and blown out of the nozzle!

Boatyarddog, thanks for the Bahco tip. I've ordered one from Amazon along with variously shaped blades. I've used one of their 50mm flat scrapers for years with good results including a complete antifoul removal.

Cheers,

Mike