Cleaning

Let me start off by saying this is not a curatorial approach. This is about taking an old tool that has no specific historical value and restoring it to working order. If you have a tool that you believe has some objective historical value (due to the maker, time/place of manufacture, or feature/process), then please, handle it appropriately.

If, on the other hand, you have a musty molding plane from the early 18th Century. Perhaps a nice cock bead plane from England, then by all means, Let's get cracking. The rest of this assumes a molding plane just to make it simple.

First, let's make sure this is going to be worth our effort.

• Is it structurally sound? At least well enough for the level of use we're likely to require?
  • Common issues include cracks, checking, missing chunks
• Does it have wood borer holes? A couple of holes are OK, many holes are not.
• Is the proper blade present (if appropriate)? Or you can provide a replacement?
• If it has any controls, adjusters, fences, etc. Are they present and functional? Or at least repairable?

OK, we have a tool that's structurally sound and liable to stay that way for now. Let's start with gross cleaning.

Even though I am not attempting preservation per se, I would rather avoid removing material. So let's not sand stuff unless it's absolutely necessary. I have used a scraper, carefully, to remove paint, glue and other blap. For instance, the traditional plane sole lubricant in England is tallow. This gets everywhere and leaves molding planes especially with a waxy buildup where you would hold the plane. It's ugly, but it comes off with some work.

Notebox:

Medical name:

Ultraverboselongtalkingviralgermus, commonly abbreviated as "Ultraverb" by clinic personnel.

Remove the iron and wedge and set them aside. If the wood finish is:

• In good shape and clean: wipe down with BLO
• In good shape, but dirty: scrub it with cleaner, wipe it clean and then wipe it down with BLO
• In poor shape, slather it with revitalizer, and then wipe it down.