I started using the stuff based on a recommendation from some cruiser friends. 
Pinesol to clean the teak. Lemon oil to prevent mildew/mold. Danish teak oil 
for preservation and appearance.

 

I always presumed that lemon oil was something made from the seeds or the peel. 
And that it would be somewhat acidic to stop mildew. Guess I never realized it 
was mineral oil with added scent.

 

I wonder if you can actually get oil  made from lemons, and whether that is 
what my friends had in mind with the recommendation? Guess I can rething the 
process of oiling my teak this spring.

 

Anyway, improving the air circulation seems to have had a beneficial impact on 
mildew/mold in my interior.

 

Rick Brass

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Josh Muckley 
via CnC-List
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2016 6:04 PM
To: C&C List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com>
Cc: Josh Muckley <muckl...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Stus-List Lemon oil cause mildew?

 

Just curious Rick, why lemon oil then teak oil?

FWI: I thought lemon oil was just that.  Oil from a lemon.  I assumed from the 
peel.  I even checked the bottles at the store very closely.  They are labeled 
very clearly and plainly as "Lemon Oil".  In small print on the back the only 
thing to the contrary is a statement which says something to the effect of, 
"Contains a minimum of 10% petroleum distillates".  I assumed that this was the 
solvent which carried the lemon oil.

After researching my previous question to the list of "does lemon oil cause 
mildew?"  I found that most lemon oils are mineral oil with added scent and 
color.  In disbelief I re-read both bottles of lemon oil and then resorted to 
checking the MSDS.  To my dismay the MSDS confirmed that a significant portion 
(>90%) of "lemon oil" is just white mineral oil.  I went on to check the MSDS 
of some other wood oils (teak, watco, etc) most were a mixture of mineral oil 
and mineral spirits.  As I understand it woods like teak are so dense that a 
thinner/solvent is helpful in carrying the oil deeper into the wood pores.  One 
exception is Danish Oil which has polyurethane mixed in.  An additional 
exception is any oil which is a "drying oil" boiled linseed is one example and 
I think tung oil is another.

If anybody is "into" essential oils I'm planning to make my own wood polish 
from mineral oil and tea tree oil.  I might try adding lemon too.  The tea tree 
is evidently supposed to prevent mold and mildew.

Josh Muckley
S/V Sea Hawk
1989 C&C 37+
Solomons, MD

 

 

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