Good evening everyone,
I've got a type 11 no. 5 that I'm working on, and I'm having trouble getting the tote and knob to a condition that I like. As you can see, the tote and knob are in pretty good condition considering their age so I'd rather not sand and refinish them. The original finish doesn't have any significant chips or deep gouges, and is only hazy in a couple small places. The issue I have is that it's so dark that you can't see the grain or figure of the wood.
What I'd like is to brighten them up a bit so you can see the figure of the wood. I'm not concerned with the scratches and dings, I kinda like the character it adds. I've been reading a bit about plane restoration and tried what I've read. I used 0000 steel wool and mineral spirits to get all the dirt and grime off, then tried applying a coat of Johnson's paste wax and buffing the finish. I also tried Old English but to no avail. I've read a little about some products like Kramer's Antique Improver but I can't find anything like that here in town and don't want to spend the money ordering something that I may not need.
Any ideas?