and my two cents

Trisodium phosphate in a mild solution is gentler than oxalic acid, which will
also bleach wood. You have to neutralize either one afterwards. I’ve used a weak
solution of baking soda but there are other options including just washing the
surface with water.

I no longer can use anything that gives off intense fumes, so TSP is what I’ve
turned to. Naptha is a powerful solvent that flashes off rapidly, one of the
reasons conservators use it. But it is very flammable and must be used with tons
of ventilation.

There may very well be just a surface film of dirty linseed oil or tallow
obscuring the grain. If so, a mild degreaser or solvent such as TSP could do
enough to bring the planes back to life.

Best of luck!
Gary
...............................
Gary Roberts
http://toolemera.com
http://toolemerabooks.com

"I'ld rather read a good book, than write a poor one." Christopher Morley




On Sep 1, 2014, at 2:46 AM, Tony Blanks  wrote:

> Friends,
> 
> I seek advice, guidance, experience or failing that, opinions, before I do
something I may come to regret.
> 
> I have some European (English) beech moulding planes, boxwood slipped, which
have been oiled within an inch of their life and then apparently stored in the
back of a chimney.  Dark doesn't begin to describe them.  I doubt that they will
ever be returned to the warm honey brown of patinated beech, but I'd like to
lighten the colour if that can be done short of using paint stripper.  I looked
at Tony Seo's Galoot Formula #1 page, but reading the cautions I doubt that
adding more linseed oil and wax to the existing coat will improve the situation.
> 
> Any suggestions as to how to go about doing this would be appreciated.
> 
> Thanks and Regards,
> 
> Tony B
> Hobart, Tasmania
> 
> 
> 
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