The answer is simple it's a natural oil found in teak trees! There simple as that. But you probably wanted a bit more of an answer. There are all sorts of uses for teak oil. It's a great natural alternative to the commercial weatherproofing stains out there.
Teak oil is found in the trunks of teak trees. It's known for having a deep rich color. You can use this oil to help maintain the original color of your teak furniture.
See, what happens is as teak ages it changes color. It's a natural process. It goes from a nice golden brown to more of a silver color. A lot of people find this very attractive. If however you want to keep your teak furniture looking like it was just made then you'll want to apply teak oil every few months to maintain the tone.
Once you decide to use teak oil it's a commitment. It will have to be maintained every few months or the wood will start to splotch and turn gray.
Funny enough teak furniture doesn't need this oil to preserve it. The wood is so hard and dense it will do just fine exposed to the elements. All the oil really does is keep it from weathering.
Teak isn't just for furniture though. Teak and teak oil have been used aboard ships for centuries. Even modern navy ships still have teak accents. It's common on luxury yachts as well.
The reason teak is such a great choice for wet areas is that the wood is so tightly grained. Teak is an extremely dense hardwood that just oozes with resins, and oils. It resists warping when it's wet.
Teak is primarily grown in India for export. Although it is found in other areas of the world it is endangered.
If your impact on the environment is important when it comes to purchasing furniture, look for a sustainability certificate that says the wood was produced by environmentally sound means instead of illegal logging of old growth forests.
Teak comes in 3 basic grades A-C. The first two grades are considered furniture grade and will have the least number of knots in the wood. It will shape much easier and won't warp and split as easily as C grade teak.
This doesn't mean you can leave teak constantly sitting in water though. A piece of teak will rot just like any other wood if left to soak long enough. Always store teak wood on dry ground to prevent it from rotting out.
What is teak oil? Easy answer it's just a natural oil that you can use to waterproof and accentuate any piece of teak furniture. It's water repellent as well as beautiful. So even though teak is pricey it can last for decades. It could be the last piece of outdoor furniture you'll ever buy. If you want to keep it looking like new just apply some teak oil every few months. The longer that you use teak oil the richer your furniture will look.
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