Kevin A wrote:ironhead wrote:I personally would never bead blast or sand blast CI.. IMO it ruins the iron's original finish I prefer electrolysis for rust and a Lye bath for the carbon build up.
You might be right, but if you think about it the original finish has already been compromised by the rust. What difference does it make which method one uses to remove the rust? Electrolysis is also going to leave pits in the surface where the rust has eroded the iron surface. I do have to agree with you about sand blasting iron, it's way too aggressive. I've been glass beading both cast iron and aluminum engine parts for many years, I don't have a problem using the process on cast iron cookware.
Well, if it's a no value pan, then you'd be right. Why worry about it. But sandblasting (or bead blasting) devalues the piece as well. Plus, the electro does such a nice job with no effort (almost as easy as a lye bath). It all comes down to how much you're into your cast iron. Like a car collector. You have the guys who love stock (these are the guys who are into electro or lye baths). They want the piece to stay as natural as possible. Then you have the custom. Those who'll chop, lower, etc a car (people who sandblast). In end, they both have a workable piece on their hands. Just what lies in the eye of the beholder when you're done.
And, even a pitted piece still can have value. Depends on how badly it's pitted and how rare the pan is. But once you've blasted it, you've tossed alot of that value out the door.
