FIRST PRESS! SIgwalt #5 Dismantle?

Greetings Letterpress Community!

I have found my first press, a lovely Sigwalt #5. She’s a bit rusty-mainly the inking disk, springs for rollers and the impression screws. The decorative painting on the side is still intact and I would like to keep this.

What is the best way to clean the press? Ideally I would like to dismantle it, give it a once over and re-assemble.
This would be a very ambitious project and am wondering if foolish.

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i’m a beliver in if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. i usually just use fine steel wool and get all the rust off i can, oil the thing and start printing. Who’s to say what is right, some people like to strip the presses and make them look new, its up to you how much work you want to do, myself, i’m a printer not a restorer, my equipment has all the original goo, and grime that has built up over the years. good luck whatever you do Dick G.

Use Scotchbrite pads instead of steel wool, they don’t leave little pieces od metal on and around the press. If you go to an auto paint supplier they have some very fine grits that won’t scratch the ink disc. At the hardware store I have seen 1000 grit (grey) which is suitable for most cleaning. The red or green pads are too abrasive.

Paul