I like the old-tool look for my old tools; I have no desire to strip down to new metal and paint like new.

Since you have shown us how to stiffen your old-time formula with CA glue if we want to – I see no reason to use anything else on my tools – old or new. But, stiff flooring wax is common as dirt; you can even get it in colors! I value yours because it offers the soft satin “almost not there” look when wanted. Thanks again!

I’m completing and finishing my kit plane soon, so that will give me a basis to look at it on a new tool.

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Conservators are quite used to mixing their own compounds, because they have learned to distrust external sources. While they might use a mix like this to recreate some items made within the last 200 years, they are quite unlikely to want to introduce this compound to an old artifact. Introducing any drying oil, is likely to be considered ill advised. Partially because of the added potential for chipping, aging and yellowing. Mostly because they prefer acid neutral materials.

The history of artifact conservation is quite filled with well intended destruction by conservators. Often the horrible mistakes made be conservators don’t show up for years. As a result, conservators tend to be fairly careful about the compounds they use to restore or protect objects. Rarely do they try to return objects to original function. That is what they use reproductions for.

Conservators are going side with materials that do the least harm, while protecting the most. However the environment that they are protecting from is in a dry cabinet or on a dry shelf.

If you treat a saddle that you ride on, the way a conservator does, the saddle will not have the protective ingredients soaking in that would help keep a saddle supple, rot resistant, sweat, rain, grunge and wear resistant.

If however you treat a 500 year old saddle with the stuff you would best use on a riding saddle, you might cause great harm to that saddle.

I love the wax, safflower oil and turpentine mix for it’s look, feel, and it’s preserving and protecting qualities. But 500 years from now, any curator trying to preserve it, will probably have to compensate for the mix I used.

Till then however, is does have a wonderful look and feel while protecting wood. It makes a timeless sort of finish, that gives no clue as to the possible age of the item. I love that quality as well.

Bob

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Bob