John Ruth wrote: 


> I'd like to hear some points of view on when is it appropriate to clean off
> "crud" vs. "over-cleaning", which removes the "patina"
and:

> In other words, it's already wrecked to the point where it will never be a
> display piece, but rather a user.

I think you answered your own question, here. Make it the user you want it to
be. If it was historic in nature, that is a different issue, but a machinist
chest (presuming it isn't a special, hand mode prototype Gerstner or one
fashioned by Maudslay during his apprenticeship), especially if physically
damaged and already modified, is not worth the trouble to restore, IMHO.


> The next step might be a trip to the furniture refinisher's lye tank, to
> saponify any remaining surface oil, but I think I'm not going that far.

I'm glad to hear that you are not truly insane. Unless, of course, it is
Maudslay's tool case...

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