Removing 20 years of Grease - Cast Iron Skillet Restoration

After finding out my mate was still using this abomination, I decided I would clean up his frying pan for him. I had planned for a quick restoration, but a surprise enamel finish and a broken handle slowed things down.
Regards,
R.E

Update: If you watched this and are thinking about trying it, look up how to do a Lye Bath, as it may be easier and better! I will try it next time a find a good skillet.

If you'd like, you can buy me a coffee too!

[OfficialSparklyPig]

"Would you have done anything differently?" Yeah I would have just thrown it out and got him a new one, lol, good on you for restoring it!! I kind of hate to think of what his kitchen looks like lol

[Restorology]

That turned out so nice. Excellent work! Cheers!

[jdsgotninelives]

Top job! Did the same a few years back. Used olive oil to coat after every use. Never washed, just cleaned it out with paper towel and a light coat of olive oil. After about a month she was fully seasoned and shiny black and working better than ever.

[cferguson]

There are a number of methods to clean them without using an abrasive method-oven cleaner, lye soak, electrolysis, & molasses soak to name a few. When you use abrasive methods, you also break down the factory seal. If you break down the factory seal, you'll need to reseal with 5 to 10 heat & oil sequences using a heat settings that is different from when you are just generally oiling. It does not hurt to wash them. The trick is to dry & oil them properly before putting up. If you don't dry & oil properly, the pans will rust, which why folks adopted a don't wash approach.

[marywhitehead]

Nice job, oven cleaner works well too without all the scrubbing. I use my grandmother's skillet on a daily basis and the inside is as smooth as a baby's bottom!

[DavidSykes-sz]

All you have to do is burn the skillet, in a wood stove overnight or on a bonfire outside. Everything burns away and you’re left with a clean skillet. My grandmother cleaned many cast iron pots or skillets that way. If you use a grinder you risk damaging the surface. Just burn it!! You won’t hurt the cast iron at all! I would preheat the cast iron before putting it into a hot fire but it comes out clean and down to the bare metal.

[Koalabean]

I have a pot from my mother in law who got it from her grandmother! I have literally used a knife to hack and pick off the cracks. I have been looking for this video or one similar for YEARS

[turdferguson]

Enameled cast iron can't go in the electrolysis tank so we have to soak it in lye or Purple Power cleaner. Either one will remove the buildup without harming the enamel. All we need to avoid is scraping it or using an abrasive stainless steel scouring pad. This will damage the enamel.

[MrsJax]

😮 I would have never thought that to have blue underneath all of that... nice work

[a.p.a.woodmetal]

Hi buddy, i loved this restoration 👏👏👏👍👍👍🙂 like

[morenaconsentida]

Good Lord! I just bought a skillet dirty as this one, with layers and layers of grease for 2 dollars... I need a grinder to clean it???😅😂 Good video. Thanks for sharing 👍

[tiffanydix]

That’s a beautiful pan! I love cast iron.

[NJ-opsf]

Wow! you sure are more than handy and know what you are doing esp. with the handle restoration.

[jasonnicholson]

Excellent job. I have an old Rayburn stove in the same condition as this skillet I have clean it with a chemical to get most off but need to attack it with a scraper like you have done. Does it scratch the enamel ?

[sweetp]

Omg I been looking for a video like this my mom had an old cast iron pot outside for years full of grease. Had to pry open the top. I decieded to clean it up, but its so much gunk. I soaked it 60 40 vinegar it only took a little off. Imma look into the lye as well. Thanks!

[katysummer]

I find this a kind of rough cleaning method and the iron part for the handle wouldn't break if treated properly and not tighten it up in a wise. I own some of those wood handled antique frying pan and restored them. I tried sanding on a cheap cast iron pan it doesn't look good at all wouldn't do it again.

[Inteligento]

The threaded rod should have been cut off leaving a 1/4 inch protruding, this allows for a step bushing to slip over the rod with a tap drill size to guide the drill then the original thread can be used. Second the wood handle should be carved to fit inside the aluminum collar, this would prevent the handle from coming loose and spinning when the load of food inside the pan is uneven.

[tudorverde]

Wow, the enamel is really indestructible.

[thedavesofourlives]

talk about doing it the hard way - oven cleaner or electrolysis?

[Arandomwoman]

This video is worth a thousand likes. What kind of scraper did you use? Would you list the tools you used, please?