Scrub & scrub and wax & wax

So Tuesday, the husband mixed me up some Murphy's Oil Soap, and I carefully scrubbed my spinning wheel of any grime and gunk that may have accumulated on the wood over the years. The cloth got dirty, but not blackened, with residual furniture polish and probably some of the stain. There are a few discolorations on the wood, but normal for a used piece of furniture, I expect. Then I wiped it with a damp cloth, allowed it to air dry for a couple of hours, and use the Howards Feed & Wax on it.


I could not believe how much wax I used! The wood was so thirsty; the instructions said to slather it on, wait 20 minutes, then wipe up the residue. What residue? I was glopping large dollops onto the cloth and rubbing the wood thoroughly, and kept having to add more. and more. and more!


I did buff it after 20 minutes, and very little came off onto the cloth. Rich suggests waiting a week or so for the oil/wax to penetrate into the wood, then do it again. Already it has a warm, soft glow about it, but I can see it's crying out for more.


I got to know more about the character of the wheel; the gouge dug in on the flyer from the orifice, where yarn wore down the wood; the rough bumpiness on one side of the wheel itself, as if the wood was damaged at one point; the scrapes in the treadle, the little ding of blue on one rail near the footman. I found no rough, damaged spots during my cleaning and polishing; this is good. The front leg has a strong color and the grain stands out. It's lovely.

There are some loose screws and unevenness in the wheel. Rich is going to be helping me get it up and running, using the maintenance kit I purchased, and his mad machinist skillz. I'm too afraid I'll mess it up to try doing it this time, but I want to watch and see. This is how I learn, by watching. I admit I'm a people-watcher anyhow, but I like being shown how to do something, or see that if things are fiddled around with, they won't be horribly destroyed.

Of course, I'm someone who can't assemble anything more complex than a plastic Easter egg...