OverZealous Cleaning of Old Metal Planes by Dealers etc


Suggestion


Sometimes, I get a plane from a dealer or other person who has used a wire brush or abrasive paper etc to "clean" or prepare the item for sale.

Most collectors or serious users however prefer to obtain them "as is", sometimes with old world patina or gunk buildup, and then gently clean the plane themselves.
Some dealers openly claim/boast that wire brushing is best for them, as it clears the sale more quickly.
But this creates the dilemma for buyers who want a nostalgia tool without that artificial shiny look.


Suggestion to improve the look of "shiny" unplated planes such as a Record 041 or 311 etc.


After obtaining a tool or plane from a dealer or the markets, I normally just wipe it all over with a very oily rag, and put it away until cleaning time.

I then clean with a rag, or a well used old "ScotchBrite" from the kitchen, soaked in turps. The latter is great for removing dobs of old paint etc.


Then, if I want to remove the shiny look, or partially restore some "patina", I use a fairly strong mix of clothes washing detergent and very hot water to degrease and clean.
Leave the parts in the mix for 30 mins at least.
Then I scrub all parts with a small stiff brush.
You will be pleasantly surprised how well this works for normal cleaning!

I then rinse off with hot water, holding the parts in a pair of old kitchen tongs to avoid finger marks, and wipe the part with a cloth wet with hot water, then dry them off laying them down on a side of the plane which is not required to have a new look (eg bottom of a plane).
A micro layer of rust forms almost immediately, and turns the plane surface a straw colour.
Leave the plane to dry off.
(I use a dry old Scotch-Brite to later remove the rust from areas which I do not want rust).

I then use an oily rag to wipe over the plane, and this normally turns the rust a darker colour.
This process can sometimes take the artificial shiny look off a plane.


This is not a perfect method.
You will need to practice to get an even "look".
You need to have the metal surfaces fully and evenly "wetted" during the micro-rusting process or else you will have a patchy result.

This cleaning method is just great for general tool cleaning.
If you want to use the detergent mix for cleaning without the rusting, just wipe an oily rag over the tool immediately after rinsing, even while the tool is wet; a little messy but works.

If you want to remove this micro-rust at any time, just use an oily Scotch-Brite and scrub harder than is normal.


Caveats -
Must use clothes washing detergent (contains caustics and and water softeners). Kitchen detergent is not as effective.
This strong detergent mix can remove or soften decals, paint, or discolour painted surfaces - be careful!
Must use very hot water.
Do not use this mix on lacquered wood; it marrs the finish.
Do not use on planes on which you want to preserve some of the original clear lacquer surfaces (eg some Record types).
If you leave a plane in the detergent too long, an uneven rusting may occur whilst soaking.

Do not use this cleaning method on electroplated planes, particularly if the plating is broken, without a final soaking rinse in alcohol to dissolve the rinse water which has crept into the broken plating areas or micro cracks. Then, after a drying wipe and warm drying off, coat with clear varnish (suggest Cabots Crystal Clear in matte - fantastic!) or wipe over with oil.

Attached is a Record 311 which had been surface "cleaned" somehow, and which looked quite unnaturally shiny before I treated it.
Notice the slight straw colour in parts.


Hopefully of use to someone.

Good luck

cheerio, mike