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Cleaning a Stanley A6 Plane

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chopper1:
I picked up this Stanley A6 plane today and would like to know a couple things.
1) It's base is aluminum and I'd like to know what the best way to clean it would be.  I understand that Evaporust shouldn't be used on aluminum.
2) What would it be worth, approximately.
Thanks in advance,
mike

rusty:
) the best way to clean it

A) Don't
B) If you must, just a little soap and water, or alumnium safe glass cleaner*

Alumnium doesn't like being cleaned. almost every chemical known reacts with alumnium. The result is either dissolving the alumnium, or creating ugly insoluable compounds that refuse to come off the surface.
The other problem is, it is painted, and the paint available when that was made doesn;t really stick very well, you risk flaking off the paint if you clean it with almost anything.

As to the sides and bottom, first, it is cast alumnium, not machined alumnium, so, it isn't supposed to be shiny like the bumper of your car, it's natural color is a kind of dull gray..Using polish on it will probably make weird shiny/smooth spots...

Unless it is really ugly, I would do very little in the way of trying to clean the alumnium...

2c

* contains no ammonia or vinegar, only a butylated surfactant

chopper1:
Thanks, Rusty.  I guess I'll just use some warm water and soap on the aluminum. 
The blade and the locking piece I'll clean with some vinegar.

scottg:
zomething about like... zissssss maybe?
  Its a mid century type. Not mint but it's probably a bit better then the rest of the plane
 yours Scott

Branson:
It has been my understanding that the aluminum Stanleys were war time production (WW II), and I doubt many were made.   I have one of the pocket planes in aluminum that I keep mostly because its unusual.

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