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Author Topic:   Oiling Mahogany??

SeaHag posted 07-07-2002 03:03 PM ET (US)
Okay I've read all the posts over the last two years with regards to 'finishing' mahogany. Not one of the many posts mention oiling mahogany! Why?
This struck me as odd because of the distinct line drawn between those who oil teak versus varnish teak. I would have thought that conviction to the finish would have carried over to mahogany. It must be that mahogany does not accept oil as well. Correct???
My application is this. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about rod racks. After pricing them out I decided to fab them myself. (I just like the wood look, hence the nix of starboard.) I picked up a nice African Mahogany board on e-bay and plan to cut out the templates and finish with Dalys SeaFin Teak Oil (to match the rest of the finish)I also plan on fabbing ice chest blocks too. Aesthetics is not critical in this application.
What will be the detriment (if any) to using Teak Oil as a finish for African Mahogany??
Thanks in advance!
Wreckdiver posted 07-07-2002 03:24 PM ET (US)
It may work as long as the Mahogany holds enough oil and doesn’t get wet. Otherwise the wood tends to turn black. Teak has natural oil that keeps it from rotting and turns gray from weathering. Most of the teak oils are used to replace the natural oil in the wood.
Landlocked posted 07-08-2002 11:45 AM ET (US)
I used Mahog. when I re-worked the front of my console. (backing for guages etc). Used oil because all the teak was oiled. It has held up really well and looks great - nice brownish golden color.
One observation to share. When I first started "oiling" I used a tounge oil blend from Home depot. Behr brand. Looked great and lasted 3-4 months. Now that I'm more "educated" I used Westmarine teak oil last time. Its been less than a month and is already showing signs of fading. Seems the H.Depot stuff worked better for my situation. Perhaps there is some additive in it.
Ll.
Tom W Clark posted 07-08-2002 11:54 AM ET (US)
SeaHag,
There is nothing wrong with oiling mahogany (or any other wood for that matter). Mahogany is usually varnished simply because it is a more durable finish. As Wreckdiver points out, teak is a naturally oily wood and thus weather and rot resistant. This is why it is used for the decking on yachts. You almost never see a mahogany strip deck because it will not hold up as well.
If you want your rod holders to match the finish of the rest of the wood on your Outrage then go ahead and use oil. If you really want the rod holders to match then build them out of teak and oil them. If you want to match the Whaler original detail, then build them of mahogany plywood and varnish them. That’s the way they were on my 18' Outrage and they held up very well over 17 years of use.
SeaHag posted 07-08-2002 01:01 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the input!! Good Points!!
The reason I'm going with solid mahogany is because I got the wood for a steal. It's not that I'm opposed to the varnish, but it seems like a lot of work for an item that is not "eye-catching". Solid vs. Plywood was purely $$$'s.
Landlocked,
interesting comment on the West Marine Teak Oil. I am now approaching the 3rd application of West Marine Teak Oil on my existing teak within a three-week period. Really seems to fade out fast.
Based on the advocacy of Tom Clarke and others I ordered some Daly's.

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Author	Topic: Oiling Mahogany??
SeaHag	posted 07-07-2002 03:03 PM ET (US) Okay I've read all the posts over the last two years with regards to 'finishing' mahogany. Not one of the many posts mention oiling mahogany! Why? This struck me as odd because of the distinct line drawn between those who oil teak versus varnish teak. I would have thought that conviction to the finish would have carried over to mahogany. It must be that mahogany does not accept oil as well. Correct??? My application is this. A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about rod racks. After pricing them out I decided to fab them myself. (I just like the wood look, hence the nix of starboard.) I picked up a nice African Mahogany board on e-bay and plan to cut out the templates and finish with Dalys SeaFin Teak Oil (to match the rest of the finish)I also plan on fabbing ice chest blocks too. Aesthetics is not critical in this application. What will be the detriment (if any) to using Teak Oil as a finish for African Mahogany?? Thanks in advance!
Wreckdiver	posted 07-07-2002 03:24 PM ET (US) It may work as long as the Mahogany holds enough oil and doesn’t get wet. Otherwise the wood tends to turn black. Teak has natural oil that keeps it from rotting and turns gray from weathering. Most of the teak oils are used to replace the natural oil in the wood.
Landlocked	posted 07-08-2002 11:45 AM ET (US) I used Mahog. when I re-worked the front of my console. (backing for guages etc). Used oil because all the teak was oiled. It has held up really well and looks great - nice brownish golden color. One observation to share. When I first started "oiling" I used a tounge oil blend from Home depot. Behr brand. Looked great and lasted 3-4 months. Now that I'm more "educated" I used Westmarine teak oil last time. Its been less than a month and is already showing signs of fading. Seems the H.Depot stuff worked better for my situation. Perhaps there is some additive in it. Ll.
Tom W Clark	posted 07-08-2002 11:54 AM ET (US) SeaHag, There is nothing wrong with oiling mahogany (or any other wood for that matter). Mahogany is usually varnished simply because it is a more durable finish. As Wreckdiver points out, teak is a naturally oily wood and thus weather and rot resistant. This is why it is used for the decking on yachts. You almost never see a mahogany strip deck because it will not hold up as well. If you want your rod holders to match the finish of the rest of the wood on your Outrage then go ahead and use oil. If you really want the rod holders to match then build them out of teak and oil them. If you want to match the Whaler original detail, then build them of mahogany plywood and varnish them. That’s the way they were on my 18' Outrage and they held up very well over 17 years of use.
SeaHag	posted 07-08-2002 01:01 PM ET (US) Thanks for the input!! Good Points!! The reason I'm going with solid mahogany is because I got the wood for a steal. It's not that I'm opposed to the varnish, but it seems like a lot of work for an item that is not "eye-catching". Solid vs. Plywood was purely $$$'s. Landlocked, interesting comment on the West Marine Teak Oil. I am now approaching the 3rd application of West Marine Teak Oil on my existing teak within a three-week period. Really seems to fade out fast. Based on the advocacy of Tom Clarke and others I ordered some Daly's.