Oil before or after hardware? - Cap rail

[Beersmith]

I have restored the teak caprail on my boat and have just finished bedding it back onto the boat. Now that I have a fresh, clean, sanded caprail I need to know some order of operations.

After much deliberation, I think I have finally settled on using Starbrite Tropical Teak Oil on the wood. With a clean and bare rail, it seems like this would be a great time to apply the oil. However, I wonder if it would be unwise due to the fact that I will be bedding bits of hardware on the wood itself.

Is it wise to oil now, or should I wait until all of the hardware is bedded on it? My worry is that the oil would interfere with any bedding compound I plan on using. I use butyl tape for most of bedding, tube stuff for things that aren't thru-bolted and need some adhesive.

[zeehag]

oil will interfere with bedding compound. if you wish to oil first, you might wait a couple of days after oiling to place hardware--i have been oiling with hardware in place.

[David M]

I agree with Zee, bedding compound will not adhere as well or not at all to wood that has been oiled.

[Beersmith]

I definitely wont be installing any hardware anytime soon, so it would be weeks if not months before any hardware is on. Would that be enough time for the oil to seep in and not interfere with bedding?

[Beersmith]

and surely there are pieces of hardware that are added on at a later date on rails that have been oiled, and had to deal with the fact that they are bedded on top of oiled wood

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by David M

---- bedding compound will adhere as well or at all to wood that has been oiled.

Huh? Can you say that again David?

[David M]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Huh? Can you say that again David?

Fixed...my coffee had not quite sunk in Mike.

Originally Posted by Beersmith

and surely there are pieces of hardware that are added on at a later date on rails that have been oiled, and had to deal with the fact that they are bedded on top of oiled wood

Yes, after some of the oil has evaporated off a few weeks later it will probably be fine.

[Geoduck]

Before you mount hardware, whether you have oiled recently or not, wipe down the area to be bedded with acetone. This will lift any surface oils that might interfere with the adhesion of bedding compound. Do not use 3M 5200 as a bedding compound. Sika Flex or an equivalent poly sulphide is best.

[delmarrey]

If you really want to lift the oil out, hit it with a heat gun, But don't burn it!

Then wipe it down with acetone.

[Beersmith]

10-4 on the acetone wipe, that is burned into my head as proper procedure.

Sounds like I should be able to oil now, and in a few months when I am installing things I should be fine as long as I wipe the surface oils off.