Advice about restoring hand plane, keep it looking worn or make it look brand new?
I was lucky enough to get this #7 Stanley Bailey plane at a garage sale this weekend. It was dirty but in pretty good condition. I have never restored an old tool before so just wanted to ask a couple questions.
I plan on keeping it to use. So I’m torn on how much to restore vs trying to make it look new. It seems to have all the original parts and nothing was seized up. So I took it apart and cleaned it with nylon and brass brushes and some 0000 steel wool. This is how it came out.
So my question is should I leave the sides as is or sand them down to make them look new again? Also should I try to fix the Japanning repaint it?
I have seen so much talk about not doing too much sanding or removing anything original.
Pat D
MAR-25-02
AUG-18-02