Seriously, this is not a gloat. Maybe a pre-gloat, but I don't really know enough about what I just bought! On Labor Day weekend, while browsing through an odds-and-ends used hardware shop at the Oregon coast, I came across a Stanley 45 in pretty good condition and nearly complete--just missing 2 cutters out of 23. I have tried to search the Neanderthal threads for anything about the Stanley 45 combination plane, but didn't find much mention of it.
So I'm wondering if any of my fellow Creekers have anything to share about the Stanley 45, whether they have ever used one much, and what they think. I have ordered a booklet about the plane, and the booklet supposedly includes a copy of the original manual. The little manual that was with the plane when I bought it has all but disintegrated, unfortunately.
The rosewood parts (at least I am assuming it's rosewood) all appear to be in very good shape. No knicks, dents, chips or cracks. They do appear to be dirty, however. How should these parts be cleaned? There are a couple small rusty spots on the guides, where the nickel plating has worn away. All the screws are in working order. What solvent would be good for performing a general cleanup of the metal parts?
Finally, I am also interested in actually using the plane to make beads, coves, rabbets, grooves, dadoes, tongue-and-groove joints, etc. Any advice given will be appreciated. Or maybe your opinion will be that using a 45 just isn't worth the trouble!