Inherited my great grandfathers cast iron pan

Seems like it needs a date with the glass bead blaster.

Funny that you bring this subject up. My wife just found her Grandmothers cast iron skillet and we used it last night for the first time to pan fry some crab cakes. Worked perfectly even after 35 years of sitting, just a quick cleanup and re-oil.
That would probably work perfect.
 
I've seen many a good cast-iron pan ruined by a wire wheel.

Were it mine:

Wash it in hot, soapy water. Rinse well.

Fill the sink with enough hot water to cover the pan. Pour in a pint or so of distilled white vinegar. Let it soak for an hour or so. You should begin to see bubbles in a few minutes.

Use a stainless steel scrubbie - not an SOS pad - to clean it once the vinegar has loosened the rust. Rinse it. Now you can decide if it needs further cleaning, e.g, removing baked-on grease or other gunk.

NOTE: I've done this many, many times. I usually go after the grease and grime first, then the rust.

Just my $0.02.
 
i've restored some that look much worse than that one.
muriatic acid and some water will loosen the rust up. rinse well. then get palm sander with 60, 120, 220. go to town. the smoother the better.
then to season it, heat oven to 425. wipe the entire pan with grape seed oil. place in oven face down for 30 mintues, then turn oven off. let cool to room temp. repeat 2-4 time till desired finish.
 
Just an FYI, the glass bead blaster does not roughen the surface, so it's sometimes a better choice than sanding, sandblasting or acid etch. Whether it's the right choice or not depends on how pitted the surface is.
 
As long as it doesn't spin or rock when it is on a flat surface I think it's worth restoring. Lot's of good methods for doing that, some described here.

Just because it's Lodge is not a reason to ditch it. They have been making pans for over 100 years. They don't have the collector value of Griswold, Wagner or Favorite but IMO pans are for cooking, not collecting. I have a great assortment of Lodge pans that I love to use. Refresh this, especially with the sentimental value and cook what your great grandad liked as the first meal when it's back as a tribute.
 
OP, just so your wife does not kick you out because of smell-you later alligator,
next time please use a grill for 1-2 hours.

The guys, give you all you need to know already.
 
You guys beat me to it. I was going to say a glass bead blaster or sandblaster. If it's salvageable, you'll know after a few minutes' work.
 
You guys beat me to it. I was going to say a glass bead blaster or sandblaster. If it's salvageable, you'll know after a few minutes' work.
How much do those cost? Is it really worth it for a $27 cast iron pan? Sentimental value is one thing when it's a rare one of a kind don't make them anymore type thing. But you can buy a brand new lodge one that looks exactly identical.
 
How much do those cost? Is it really worth it for a $27 cast iron pan? Sentimental value is one thing when it's a rare one of a kind don't make them anymore type thing. But you can buy a brand new lodge one that looks exactly identical.
My idea was more about using a friend's or friendly shop's equipment, not buying your own. Many of our posters probably know someone who has a bead/sand blaster in their area.
 
How much do those cost? Is it really worth it for a $27 cast iron pan? Sentimental value is one thing when it's a rare one of a kind don't make them anymore type thing. But you can buy a brand new lodge one that looks exactly identical.
For me it's not always about the cost. I have items in my house that are old and some should probably be replaced. But when I use them, knowing that someone I loved or admired used the item in the past makes me feel good. I realize everyone is not sentimental like that so I guess it is a personal call.
 
My idea was more about using a friend's or friendly shop's equipment, not buying your own. Many of our posters probably know someone who has a bead/sand blaster in their area.
Yeah, I guess it depends on the area. I don't have one and have no intention of buying one and don't know anyone that has one that I could just use so it would be extreme for me to use/get one.

I think I got mine a few years ago for $20 when it was on sale. Just seems like a lot of work to restore what is basically a $20 item, it's not rare or collectable or even unique, pretty much indistinguishable from any other pan that Lodge made.
 
Did grandpa cook his breakfast eggs and bacon in this pan? If this is not a valuable heirloom I would not bother restoring it. It's still a good defensive weapon. "Come and get a bump on your noggin' with a side of tetanus, scumbag!" If it were mine, I'd take the pan to my cabin and I'd craft a neat windchime out of it and some old utensils as ringers. It's cast iron. It will take a very long time to completely rust away.
 
Our cast iron frying pan was found on the road to the Saskatoon landfill about 1978. After a little clean up it has served us faithfully for over 40 years. So rejuvenating an old frying pan is worth a little effort.
 
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