Aussie Wood Plane Magic Restoration Formula?

Re: Aussie Wood Plane Magic Restoration Formula?

Steve Kubien

>Whoever finds it, please either post it to the board or forward me a copy of it as well. The more I use wooden planes, the more I want to get my hands on some older ones for rehab and use.

Thanks,

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ont

Here it is

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Don

Here is the recipe given to me several months ago when I purchased an H & R half-set. The owner had used it on the planes, and also demonstrated using

it on a few other pieces lying around. It seemed to work very well without destroying the patina.

200ml Turps (aka Mineral Turpentine)

100ml Meths (aka Methelated Spirits)

150ml Vinegar

25 ml mild detergent

10ml Ammonia (5% solution)

25ml Brasso

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Aussie Wood Plane Magic Restoration Formula?

David Miller from Iowa

>I have substantial number of transitional and molding planes, and here�s my approach. It's not the Aussie way, but it works for me.

I used to "clean" them to golden brown using REAL turpentine and fine steel wool. Don't use the naphtha "turpatine" they try to pass off at the home centers. This is where your preference comes in - just a touch or a real scrubbing. Now I just get the gunk off with the turp and steel wool and leave the darker wood.

Then I soak them for maybe a week in a mixture of half linseed oil and half real turpentine. This does a great job in closing up all the checks and saturating the wood - the plane may even gain noticeable weight. A piece of 6� PVC pipe with and end cap works good as a container for soaking the longer planes. Be careful to ensure that the plane stays fully submerged or you will have a dried linseed oil bloom that may not come off.

Wipe down well and dry for a couple days, then hit with the turp if sticky (usually not needed), then off you go.

I have debated a number of times with folks who disapprove of this method as damaging the planes. I probably wouldn�t do this for an extremely rare plane, but all my planes are users first and I they look and work great.

Could have been me, Don

Andrew F in Australia

>What I use:

1 part Boiled Linseed Oil,

1 Part Metholated Spirits (US: Denatured Alcohol)

1 Part Shellite/White Spirit/Paint thinner

1/4 part White Vinegar

I'm sure that I posted this on BP.

Cheers,

Andrew

Re: Here it is

Paul Brandley

>Derek, is the Brasso a brass polish like Noxon, or is it some other product, common in Australia?

Thanks for the recipes!

Steve Kubien

>

Thanks from me too

Jack Guzman from Maine

>

Re: Here it is

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Paul

I do not know Noxon, but Brasso is a mild liquid metal (brass, silver, chrome) polish.

Regards from Perth

Derek

p.s. The formula you were after may indeed have been Andrew's. I posted this one on the Old Tools Forum some time back, not on BP, as I believe you were after (I should read the posts more carefully!)

Thanks, Derek.

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>Is the detergent the dishwashing kind, or the laundry kind?

Re: Could have been me, Don

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>Thanks, Andrew.

I am not positive what Shellite/White Spirit/Paint thinner is - I think a lot of things are called paint thinner. Does anyone know if this is what is known in USA stores as mineral spirits?

Re: Thanks, Derek.

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Gee Don, I've never given that any thought. But I would automatically reach for the laundry type as dishwashing liquid can strip oils. The recipe calles for "mild" detergent.

I must emphasise that I have not made this concoction myself, but have used it, and also seen (and own) the results of its use. It did a good job.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Thanks Derek. 

Paul Brandley

>

White spirit=volatile paint thinner, lighter fluid *LINK*

Andrew F in Australia

>I think that the US version is called Naptha, Don.

Here's a couple of comparison charts:

http://www.mit.edu/activities/mitoc/activities/hiking/fuel.html

http://members.iinet.net.au/~mbuckler/fuel/index.shtml

As well, Sam Simpson posted the British conservator's mixture on the main page a while back - something similar to mine and Derek's recipe - If I can find it I'll link below.

Cheers,

Andrew


British Museum recommendation

Re: furniture restorer

paul womack

>The recipes listed are variations on a well established theme.

In the antique furniture trade they're known as restoring mixtures. They're essentially a mixture of solvents (that soften the crud so it can be removed) and finishes (that make the result look nice).

The trick is that the solvents are volatile, and remove themselves after use, while the finishes are not volatile, and stay with the work.

You thus achieve 2 things in one pass, which is most important if you want to buy-clean-sell furniture to achieve turnover and profit margin.

It is perfectly possible to separate out the stages, and use solvents to clean followed by your chosen finish.

BugBear

Re: White spirit=volatile paint thinner, lighter f

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>Ah. Naptha we have. This feels like deja vu all over again - I think there was a solvents translation thread not too long ago.

Thanks!