Restoring Antique Cast Iron

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[sharonhopeweaver]

I have a #10 Grisswald skillet that was my grandmas. She passed it to my mom. Now I have it. I put a crack in the side wall near the handle. You can see crack on inside & outside of skillet. I had throne it at a robber & hit back of his head, knocking him out till state troopers got here. Him & his partner in crime went to jail. But my grandmas skillet is still useable for cooking today. Grandma passed in 1974. Her mom gave it to her.

[nancycornett]

Thank you so much! I would like to add an experience I had with GRAPESEED OIL. I had seen a video rating various oils, and grapeseed oil came out on top. I ordered some and proceeded to season two pans with it. After putting them in the oven I had to lie down for a nap, and woke up terribly sick! I opened all the windows and turned on all the exhaust fans, and after a couple of days was feeling better. Then decided to scramble some eggs in one of the pans. As the pan heated up I started feeling sick again! I went to google for info on grapeseed oil. Among a variety of articles I found one that said that when grapeseed oil is heated it can emit toxins. I know that I’m more sensitive than most people, but thought this information should be out there for everybody.

[ronmartin]

I am 78 years old and was a Chef at a restaurant many years ago. I collected Cast Iron and still have about 200 pieces of vintage to antique cast iron pans and etc. I have used a bead blaster to clean rust off of the pieces I have purchased. The bead blaster uses tiny glass beads and doesn't pit or harm the cast iron at all. It is quick and easy and once the piece has been cleaned I season each piece with Flax Seed Oil.

[plumtreefarm]

Before Crisco, they used plain old lard. I render my own lard and so prefer to use that to season my cast iron. Works great!

[patriciawright]

My grandma used to just throw them in a fire in the yard and burn off all the rust and then afterwards she scrubbed it with a wire brush. Then she washed them and coated them in oil and put it in her oven. This restored any temperament issues and made them just like new.

[terryeaston]

The numbers represent the size of the pans the letters represent the molds that was used ... They put those numbers on them back in the day so the people would know for the eye of wood burner stoves of size.. I really love the cast iron skillets and I learned about restoration and how easy it is to care for them.. thank you for showing your cast iron products to us very nice..

[elliekennedy]

I am 77 and use mt grandmother skillet, my mother used it before me, so it is at least a third generation use and maybe fourth. The outside has a built up on it from use over the years, the inside is in perfect condition and gets used regular. My grandson asks if he could have the skillet when I am done with it.

[stephanieray]

I just saw an YT video on how to outfit a smaller kitchen, and it recommended a cast iron pan because you can use it in the oven as well as on the stovetop... how funny that the next generation has to be taught what our ancestors already knew! Anyway, thank you for the wonderfully clear explanation, pretty much the best I've seen.

[johnsnow]

Yep I stick with crisco on my cast cook wear as well. It's always in the house and leaves in some nice flavour to the cooking

[jdeno]

Great video! It's very rewarding and addictive to see the end results. I've been doing this for 6 years and still love it. A helpful tip for beginners, if you can't find soda wash at the store, you can make your own by putting baking soda in the oven at 400° for 30 min. Stir it once, half way through. I've had to resort to this a few times and it works great.

[helenm]

Only compliments! Clear, step by step explanation WITHOUT one “ah” or “umm” and definitely honored wife by protecting that countertop.

[TgWags]

When you are making your electrolyte, start adding the washing soda a little at a time until the meter on your charger gets to a good point then stop. If there is too much soda in the water it makes it act like its a dead short sort of like you just hook the cables together. This isn't good for your charger and will burn it out fairly quick. Tune your electrolyte a bit at a time and the charger will hum along nice and will actually work faster because the overload is not cycling on and off.

[keithlucas]

The Wagner I have is from 1940 and passed down from a granny.
I actually used my media blaster and took off the rust, then used an orbital sander ending up at 220 grit to get it back to where it was beforehand.
Lastly I used avocado oil as it's also a high heat came out a beautiful gold brown....eggs slide right off.

[robertsherman]

Great video !
My sister has the two frying pans of our Mother. I remember the surfaces was extremely smooth.
She received them as a wedding gift. They are nearing 82 years old and still in use. Many pans of cornbread and fried potatoes made in the large skillet.
Brings back wonderful memories.
Thanks again for sharing this video.
Best regards.

[williamsanders]

Just a suggestion, and something I do when shopping for cast iron. Carry a lead test kit. Test everything for lead. Lot's of old cast iron was used to melt lead for bullet casting. Once it has been used for lead casting, it's worthless for cooking food. You can never get the lead out of it. And it will leach lead into your food. I, for one, don't want or need lead poisoning.
I've had to pass on several Wagner pans and a few Griswold's, due to lead contamination. Portable lead test kits are easy to find, and are pretty quick tests. Only thing you can do with a lead contaminated pan is seal it and use it for display or perhaps as a clock.

[smallfootprint]

Just gave my cast iron to my daughter. Stuff I've cooked in all her life, plus she's quite the collector.... BTW... Her dad was from Finland, and Saturdays were for the little pancakes made in that pan. They were made without any baking powder and were a tad sweet. Lingonberry jam was the preferred topping. So good.

[davidmaynard]

My daughter found an 8 pie shaped corn bread pan in the bottom of her mother-in-laws chicken coop. Probably here 40 plus years and now I need to finish it according to your method of a 2nd and 3rd reheat. Thanks.

[Dion]

Great video! The instructions for the electrolysis tank was so good! I am hoping my hubby will make us one! We are always running across cast iron finds and the task of cleaning and restoring can be daunting! But that little instruction put a big smile on my face! Thanks!

[BradMaestas]

I inherited some Griswold from my Gran and bought quite a bit more later on. My prized possessions are a Griswold 12 with lid and a Griswold 10 round griddle. She used Crisco so that's what I've been using. Seems that grapeseed and avocado are popular alternatives. Nice restorations! I haven't had to bring one back from the dead yet but now it's a little less daunting with the help of electrolysis.

[nkifpix]

I have the stovetop waffle iron you showed. Thx for the videos. I’ve been applying the techniques to my cast iron finds. They’ve come out beautifully.