Great job getting another old Mk.III back her self respect! I would avoid sandpaper, though, and try to avoid the use of stain. Some of the wood on L-E's doesn't take stain very well, and the results can be downright weird! Hard to remove it, too. When I apply boiled linseed oil, I thin the first coat with turpentine, and brush it on thick. Let it soak in for a couple of hours, and then rub it in well with your hand, and wipe off the excess. Thinning it helps it penetrate deeply into the wood, makes the later work go faster. It also helps if you keep the oil warm. Put it in a pyrex measuring cup and keep it on a mug warmer. And linseed oil is great for your hands! I never have dry hands even in the Winter.
I think I am going to avoid stain the next one and use Lou's approach for the furniture stripper. Hopefully I'll get a wood kit that is lighter in color.
