Restoring Cast Iron via Electrolysis Bath

[MsTwiggy]

These pics are so great! After reading this thread I have changed my CI maintenance because i have better understanding of how the seasoning works and why i don't want any left over residue from my cooking oils which all have a high smoke point. Thank you Spinaker for helping spread this knowledge!! 🔥🔥🔥🙏🏻❤️🐿

[Spinaker]

Thanks! It was a fun one. It is amazing how these things come back to life. It is one of the joys of collecting and restoring cast iron. @jrmorris

[jfmorris]

That looks beautiful Mr. Bowlsby!

[Spinaker]

Also, going on today was my Griswold No. 10, I pulled it out of the E-Bath and we have it pretty much all stripped down. There is a little seasoning left on it, but that is no big deal. All the rust and carbon has been removed.

This is the pan after one round of Flax oil seasoning. She really has a nice sheen. I let it cool over night, and I will probably do another round of seasoning later today. So far, so good!

[Spinaker]

I got the lid for the dutch oven done this morning. I would say it looks great. We can consider this one fully restored. This dutch oven was a piece that a friend of mine and his father (now gone) used on their Boy Scout trips growing up. So this one was a special restoration for me, but more importantly for him. We can now use this piece once again, the way it was intended, and I think his father would be proud of that.

[Spinaker]

Thanks! MsTwiggy

[MsTwiggy]

Beautiful finish on that!!!

[Spinaker]

The body of the Dutch Is done with the first round of seasoning! LFG!

[RichardCullip]

You can use any you see at the hardware store. Baling wire, is what some call it. Or you can use copper wire found in House hold wiring, that is what I usually;y use. All the big box stores sell it by the foot. I had some old wire laying around that I used when I wired the basement, so I just cut it outta that. But you can get raw wire at the hardware store.

Don't use galvanized or stainless. Stainless releases chromium gas and galvanized, zinc.

Thanks. That clarifies it for me and helps keep me out of the ditch as I give this a try.

[Spinaker]

You can use any you see at the hardware store. Baling wire, is what some call it. Or you can use copper wire found in House hold wiring, that is what I usually;y use. All the big box stores sell it by the foot. I had some old wire laying around that I used when I wired the basement, so I just cut it outta that. But you can get raw wire at the hardware store.

Don't use galvanized or stainless. Stainless releases chromium gas and galvanized, zinc.

[RichardCullip]

I'm getting geared up to give electrolysis rust removal a try and am clear on the principles and most of the details. I am, unfortunately, confused about the steel wire used. What's a good source for it and is there any gotchas I should avoid? Obviously stainless steel wire is a no go (I think). How about galvanized steel wire?

[Spinaker]

Update!
The lid for the No. 12 is outta the bath and ready for seasoning. I gotta let the body of the Dutch cool in the BGE, so I’ll have to throw the lid in this evening. So far so good folks!


Bonus: I have this Griswold pan in the bath as we speak. I have been meaning to get to this one for a while.

[Spinaker]

Do it up! It is pretty easy to set up once you have the materials.

[rlozinak]

That is a pretty neat process. I do have a cast iron pan that needs this process

[Oak Smoke]

I’d spray it down with a heavy coat of Easy-off oven cleaner then put it in a plastic trash bag for several days. It’s something like what a lye vat would do. You have nothing to lose. Just keep it put up where children or a pet can’t get to it.