What to keep, what to repair
A measured approach to repair starts with understanding what gives a piece its character.
Write down what matters
Before changing a finish, describe what drew you to the piece. Was it the worn colour at the edge, the proportions, or the visible repair? This note gives the work a purpose and helps prevent a series of small decisions from erasing the detail you wanted to keep.
Separate appearance from function
A surface can look uneven while still belonging to the object. A fitting can look complete while its condition remains unknown. Record these as separate questions for the person assessing the work, rather than treating every visible mark as the same kind of problem.
Keep a before-and-after record and name any replacement parts. For this journal, repair is as much an editorial question as a visual one: what changed, why did it change, and what will the next owner need to know?