How to clean ?

[cecil-TNT]

Just found a (I think) # 8 DO................
No rust but really caked up with grease / grime . how do I get all that stuff off ? wire brush and scraper then re season it?
What are those things inside the lid for?
thanks in advance, Cecil

 

[felixx]

Get a scraper in there, then since you are planning to reseason I would hit it some hot water and dishwasher powder
then put it on the BBQ or coals and let it boil for an hour (steam clean)

Or put the coals inside and burn the grease off!

 

[KCStudly]

The dimples in the lid are to promote moisture condensing and dripping back onto the food; sort of like automatic basting.

I'm no expert, but I believe others have run real grungy ones like that thru the cleaning cycle on their self cleaning ovens, or just cooked the ba-gee-zuzz out of them dry on their outdoor gas grill to cook off the crude; but you may want to wait for someone with first hand experience to weigh in before resorting to that.

If you haven't already, make sure to search for the threads on using bee's wax for seasoning. It sounds like a hit to me and will be what I use next time I have a piece that needs re-seasoning.

 

[wagondude]

One that nasty would smoke you out of the house in the self cleaning oven, but it would come out clean, bare, iron ready to start over. try running it through a dish washer on the pot scrubber cycle. That should remove enough for you to be ready to get back after it. A scraper to start will help. If you go with a wire brush, put on a tyvec suite. It will go everywhere.

 

[usnmaret]

Cecil, I have found a lot of info and videos on You Tube. But there are a lot of experts on here that will chime in.




Bob

 

[dales133]

Spray it with oven cleaner and wash it off outside first maybe

 

[KCStudly]

Oven cleaner can discolor certain metals. Not sure about CI. That's why I suggested the self cleaning oven instead.

 

[bc toys]

Put it on a bbq up side down on high let it cook off and cool down then wash is with hot water and soap then reseason it on the bbq as well

 

[KennethW]

I would first try just put it in the oven and boil some water in it. That should take the grease slim off. If not you might have go for the re-seasoning.

 

[cecil-TNT]

Hey , thanks for all the help / info...............
The plan is to scrape / wire brush then burn it over an open fire
Re season and try it out
again thanks for all the help and will post some pics of the finished product >BTW $5.00 at a local "thrift store"
I`m as happy as a willow in a wind storm , been wanting one for a LONG time .
Do you think I could find an old cast iron lid so I could put coals on top of this one ? just wondering.
Cecil

 

[backstrap bandit]

If really bad I would just wire wheel it and start over

 

[Bluebunny-TNT]

Hi Cecil,
I rarely buy new cast iron...I look around in yard sales for them. I make a campfire in the backyard, roast some weenies and talk with friends. Later in the evening, I put the iron in the campfire. For you, take the steel handle off first. Just lay it in the fire, and leave it in the hot hot coals and go to bed. It will completely ash-out the old residue, slow cool, and be ready for the next step. The next step if to wash and scrape with a pancake flipper and dry on a stove flame, Then for the next six cookings or so, only cook bacon in it. The results are better than a new one! Better than teflon! I suppose an alternate is to send it through a clean-cycle in your oven, although its not as hot, and I haven't tried it...The key is to get it way-beyond smoking hot, then slow-cool it. The steel wire handle will discolor and warp, so remove it first.
Kind Regards, Butch

 

[bobhenry-TNT]

I am sorry if I am too late but you are looking at several years of good seasoning. Why would you subject this little pot to all these indignities.
If you feel you must do something other than boil it sterile and simply recoat it. Then perhaps place it in a black trash bag with a cup of ammonia and ignore it for a week. After the week remove it and boil and scrub briskly with a heavy bristled brush or a Scotch brite pad. I have resurrected a lot worse and only once did I reluctantly toss into a fire and then only because it had been painted with silver spray paint. After cleaning dry well and coat every square inch inside and out with 100% beeswax you will be amazed with your new black shiny little pot.

The above was sanding and washing and sanding and washing and this was only because of the rust a problem you don't have.

 

[bobhenry-TNT]

Part II

I was scared to death I would ruin a very special antique legged spider skillet. While I had just purchased from a flea market for $5.00 I knew what it was worth and didn't want to ruin it.

So I wire bushed and wire brushed and washed and wire brushed

until out of desperation I did the unthinkable all but knowing I was going to crack it.

But all was well and it turned out great

 

[bobhenry-TNT]

part III

If you want to use your little drip top oven as a camp oven just add some artificial legs and a length of chain to keep the coals on top.

Cast iron don't care it just wants to be loved.

 

[cecil-TNT]

part III

If you want to use your little drip top oven as a camp oven just add some artificial legs and a length of chain to keep the coals on top.

Cast iron don't care it just wants to be loved.

Wow ! thanks for the chain tip, now I know what to do !
cecil

 

[cecil-TNT]

Good evening to all,
And thanks again to all of you for the info and tips, your restoration work is great and I`m learning from the posts.
Had a hi of 38 today ,but worked on the new find out in the back yard .
Built a fire and cooked the majority of the bad stuff off, scraped and hit it with a wire brush a little........
now to wash and season it?
Will have to wait til next week when it warms up enough to open some windows if I have to.
Thanks again to all
Cecil

 

[KCStudly]

Looks like new, that worked a treat!

 

[cecil-TNT]

OK , one last pic
And a big thank you to all of you for the tips / info
My $5.00 DO and a free tripod given to me last summer !
come on spring / summer !
Got a DO and a teardrop table now if I can just get the TD built !
Cecil

 

[KCStudly]

Nice setup.