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Dont know how many folks have tried this for cleaning tool and saw handles but i just did and it the best ive ever used. The guy who sells kramers anique restorers has this recipe for the homebrew known by many he calls igt Alburnums erlixir. Equal parts BLO, turp or mineral spirits, and vinegar. With some 000 steel wool and a few minutes and wow! I just tried it for the first time after using other methods to restore some saw handles and this stuff beat all.. Whether the piece has no finish left, patchy finish, or all the original finish.. or its clean, kinda dirty or filthy with grime and dirt.., This left my handles glowing with all their original patina and looking beautiful.. I would still use shellac or some light wiping varnish atfer this dries but for the initial cleaning and reconditioning this stuff is where its at. I used tung oil, Mineral spirits, and apple cider vinegar cuz its what i had on hand. I have experimented with other forms of cleaning like soap and water.. Simple green diluted. Mineral spirits etc.. but none comes close to the efficacy of this to clean varying conditions of old wood while maintaining the patina of an old piece and blending all the different colors and textures of old dry, dirty, patchy wood tool handles. What surprised me the most was haw it really improved the old finish on disston no 12 that had all its original finish (nearly) but looked hideous due to the ugly orange color it had turned over the years .. After treating it with elixir and steel wool it looks amazing now.. Did I say yet how much I liked this stuff? I highly recommend giving itg a try. The only one that didnt get this was the panel saw handle . It ended up with too litle of the original patina and prompted me to try something else in search of the perfect beauty of old wooden tool handles..</p>
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