Further to, or in addition to the usual discussion on soaking in
linseed oil (or not), I just found this in Spons Workshop Reciepts,
1883, page 86:

Polishing or Oiling: Planes. Planes made from naturally dried beech-
wood are much lighter in colour than those made from artificially dried
or steamed beech. For planes made of the first-named beech, use raw
linseed oil, 1 gill; dragon's blood, 1 pennyworth ; yellow ochre, as
much in bulk as dragon's blood ; mix these together, and rub the planes
all over except the sole or bottom ; let them remain about a week. Take
them and rub well all over with a clean soft rag ; give one more coat
of oil alone. Let it dry for three or four days, then rub well with a
clean rag ; lay them by for a week or two ; rub again with rag, and use
them if wanted. Let care be taken to keep them free from dust while the
oil is wet, or they will be a dirty colour. For steamed beech proceed
the same, except not to use more than about half the quantity of
dragon's blood.

No soaking there.

    BugBear
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