Restoring an old Bailey no6
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Welcome! / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Tools and Tool Maintenance/Restoration / Restoring an old Bailey no6
I picked up an old Bailey no6 at a flea market last week and it is need of some restoration. Lucky for me, everything on it is still very nice; it just needs cosmetic work.
Cleaning up the sole is pretty easy, and you can’t really tell because of all the grime and dirt, but those handles are rosewood.
What is the best way to go about cleaning the rosewood up? I would like to make this look as new as possible.
If you want to refinish the handles you’d have to sand them down. I’d try to wipe off the dirt with some paint thinner or alcohol, anything that dissolves oil or apolar things…
All I did to mine was sand the handles since someone had tried to put a new varnish layer on without removing the old one first. Needless to say it was blotching off. There still is some of the original finish left,so i sanded it as smooth as possible. If the original finish is OK I’d do as little as possible to it. I want to use the tool, the sweat from my hands will work as well.
If you’re after a reconstitution in nearly new state then sanding and varnish or shallac / wax would be my go.
Diego