Removal of exterior teak handrails

[Will]

1980 43' DCFB. I'm interested in removing the exterior teak hand rails to strip and varnish. It looks to be straight forward but I'm concerned about removing the stainless steel end caps. It looks as if the caps are slid over the ends of the teak railings then secured with two screws on the underneath side of the caps. Can I expect to remove the end caps easily without a lot of grief from sealants, wood expansion, plain old age, etc.? Or, am I in for a very tough time.
Thanks - Will

 

[Walter P]

Will,

I had a couple of 43 DC's over the years and had the same idea as you. It's a big job but it can be done (I don't recommend it). The end "caps" which comprise the hinge and latch sections are bedded in some sort of compound that can be softened with a little heat to the metal. If you're lucky, the metal ends will slide off after heating and the bedding will remain in good condition for re-insertion later. Obviously you first remove the lock screws on the underside and apply heat from either an electric heat gun or carefully from a small propane torch. If as I stated later you got lucky and the bedding compound stayed intact, then all you need is a very light coating of thin viscosity sealing compound and re-insert and re install the screws. I think it's way too much effort since a decent job can be done without dismantaling using care.

Walt

 

[SereneWarrior]

Will,
Did this job last winter and it wasn't too bad to remove the hardware. However, I agree with Walt that it's unnecessary if you're just refurbishing the wooden rails. I had to restore the metal parts and thus had to remove everything. If that's your job as well, you won't have too much trouble. Jeff

 

[Will]

Walt and Jeff

Thank you. You helped me dodge a bullet.

Will

 

[MikeP]

I bought 3 new SS hinges for my teak rails last season. I replaced the port side rail hinge and the aft deck rail hinge but was unable to remove the old hinge from the starboard side rail. I've never tried heat. Sounds like a possibility...

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I removed my rails for a varnish job this winter. The ends have 5200 in them. As stated, a little heat will soften it up and they can be removed.