** Reply to note from BBohl@g... Tue, 29 Oct 1996 22:10:23 -0500

Bill Bohl wrote:

>
> blade. I got the plane for $25 + tax, got it home and removed the
> lacquer with mineral spirits. Upon cleaning up the blade I found the
> following inside of an engraved oval:
>

Just for accuracy sake you can't remove lacquer with mineral spirits.

I am not ordinarily so mean spirited as to quibble about stuff like this
but it is important to use the right solvents so as not to damage the
artifacts. Mineral spirits is not a powerful solvent and there aren't
many finishes it will remove.

I would also caution agains using lacquer thinner on wood. It seems to
penetrate and move some of the "life" from the wood leaving a faded
surface. It can be used with great care but I don't like to. It is okay
on unpainted metal.

ernie The Arizona tool sink, IT #22