XPost: rec.antiques   
   From: dingbat@codesmiths.com   
      
   On Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:47:48 -0600, "Donna in Texas"   
    wrote:   
      
   >I have acquired a flat iron made by Enterprise Mfg, Phila.   
   >   
   >I have some questions about how to clean and identify this item.   
      
   Assuming it's made of iron, steel and possibly ceramics, with no wood,   
   string or brass parts, then electrolysis is by far the best non-damaging   
   way to clean any surface rust from it. Google will tell you the rest   
   (it's easy), particularly searching the newsgroups rec.woodworking or   
   rec.crafts.metalworking.   
      
   After this, _quickly_ spray it with a water displacer like WD40 and wipe   
   it with a paper towel. Then wax it with a hard furniture wax (Liberon   
   Black Bison), not a spray furniture polish. Renaissance Wax is ideal if   
   you have it.   
      
   Some people finish ironware with a black wax or oil finish. This is   
   fine, but it's very black - not quite appropriate for a flat iron.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)