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Phil asked,

> So, what is deemed acceptable and
> will not change the patina of a 200 year old handplane?
>    Should they just be waxed and buffed or just a light wipe
> with linseed,mineral,tung oil or something else?

I take the minimalist approach.  I much prefer my planes 'dry'
as in that real nice light colored beech.  I'll use mineral 
spirits to clean as much dirt (not patina) off and leave as is
if possible.  If the plane does not look good, I'll rub in a
coat of bee's wax.  (Melted into turps, no linseed oil.) 

If the plane had a coat of shellac, I'll redo that.  These
were more or less just a spit coat, IME.

I really do not like oil on planes as it can not be reversed
and darkens the wood considerably.  Now if you have a plane that
is in sorry shape and needs it, go ahead, but not on a nice plane
that has gone 200 years w/out it!

Bruce

Minneapolis, MinneSOta