Posted: 9/11/2011 4:44:18 PM EDT
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Hello, My grandmother recently gave me her old skillet to restore and use. She knows it belonged to her mother-in-law, and she thinks that it might have also belonged to HER mother. So, quite old. It had about 1/8" of grease and crud buildup, so I've gotten most of it off with the easy off oven cleaner method. I'm now just down to some surface rust to clean off before seasoning it and using it. Two questions though - first, there are no markings on it anywhere, other than an engraved "8" on the handle. There is no makers' mark on the bottom, or anything else. It does have a unique finish on the outside sides though, almost like a scalloped or hammered finish. Irregular dimples, all around. Any idea what I might have here? Secondly, I was trying out the electrolysis method of cleaning the rust off today. I've been struggling to get a good power supply to use for this - I don't want to deal with modifying a computer PSU, and my batter charger won't actually put out any current without being connected to a battery. I did come across a jump box that my dad had, today, though. It's a Black & Decker Electromate 400. Kind of a big inverter/light/inflator/jump pack, etc., all in one big unit. I hooked it up using the jumper cables, turned it on, and immediately got tons of bubbling action on my electrolysis tank. However, I started wondering if I could be dumping way too much current through this setup, and possibly damage my pan. I have a Fluke meter, but I've never been quite clear on measuring amps with it. And, if there is a chance it's dumping the whole 400 CCA (or whatever) through my pan, then I'll just smoke my meter anyway. HELP! I'd love to get this pan (as well as some dutch ovens I just got from my brother's deceased father-in-law) cleaned up and put into use.
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Sand, Rock Salt, Elbow grease is a traditional method.
Chinese recommend Salt for Cast Iron wok with light surface rust. They also rub ginseng root over castiron, then boil peanut oil in it drain and brush. Scallops around top edge could be that it is some kind of combination frypan and apple pie pan. Or it could be someone warped it with cold water, then pounded it back in to shape on a anvil. This works by the way. If pan warps to the outside and won't lay flat pound it from bottom to put curve on inside of pan. Then lay skillet flat on anvil and pound bottom flat. I used a piece of hardwood between the hammer and the bottom of the pan to prevent hammer marks on inside. |
| I do exactly as chef says in his link, after every use I clean with a little bit of soap and water, then re season, I use rendered bacon grease for most of it, but to each their own... if something gets burned onto it I will use SOS pads and hot water and elbow grease, then re-season using the oven method. |
On a side note if you leave a cast iron pan in a stove and turn on the self cleaning cycle it will absolutely strip that pan of every molecule except iron. I've never used the " Self Cleaning Oven Method " . Will it also remove all of the " Rust & Scale " .. ? Down to clean, bare metal .. ? PAPI |
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OK, I should clarify a few things - I'm already a devout cast iron user, so I know about care and use AFTER they're in good condition. I also know that the electrolysis method is a good way to clean up older pans. My question is this - will hooking up to this jump box damage my pans, due to high current? Also, the scalloped or hammered edge is on the vertical sides of the skillet, on the outside. Not around the edge, like a pie plate.
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| I found some old cast iron skillets a few years ago on a run down farm junk pile. I didn't know what to do with them but I did have a bead blaster at work. Well you know what happened next I had white metal cast that took a long time to season. I wouldn't recommend sand blasting! |
| i just soak mine in some coke. then a little elbow grease with a scotch bright pad. then i use flaxseed oil. it will take longer but when it's done it will have the best finish and hold up so well. if you can do the elctrolisis its by far the easiest cleaning method. definitely google the flaxseed oil for seasoing. that some salt then cook some bacon in it :) |