Super Fast & Easy How To Refinish - Restore Cast Iron Pan

Thanks to Bernzomatic for sponsoring this project:
One way to restore and season an old rusted Erie cast iron skillet is to use a Coleman camp stove and hand torches from Bernzomatic to burn in the cooking oil finish. Use a wire wheel and grinder to remove the rust layer, then rinse the pan to remove any grit. Heat the pan on the stove until smoking hot and rub in a few tablespoons of cooking oil with a paper towel to season the entire pan. Use the hand torch to burn in the oil finish and be sure to hit the sides and underside of the pan so everything is coated. Wipe down and repeat until you get a nice non-stick finish and re-season by rubbing in a little cooking oil after every use. The more you use the pan, the better it gets. I found this Erie Cast Iron #9 712 "C" skillet when cleaning out the barn in Vermont and it turns out that these are big collector's items from the late 1890's selling for over $300 on ebay. It will be great to have this pan back in use at home.
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[@missionpreparedness1533]

Just a tip from someone who has been doing this for decades...I've modified a number of rough cast iron pans and griddles with super success using only 80 grit sand paper. The result was a smooth surface, but the 80 grit sanding left a tiny micro-texture to allow the seasoning to get established and not be lifted off by use. Even the Stargazer company realized they had better results by having a tiny micro-texture allowing seasoning to hold. You will love the results...God Bless.

[@420LMP]

Instantly drawn to this video once I had seen the grinder with wire wheel and the blow torch. My kind of resto. Thanks

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Thanks! A lot of people seem to think I was ruining the pan with the wire wheel… Works good for me still using the pan to this day👍

[@joshuakent7887]

​@@JonPetersArtHomejust because it works doesn't mean it holds any value anymore.

[@LazyRC1]

Seems like he’s more interested in camping and cooking not collecting. Frankly,,the “collectors” that are chiming in seem to be insufferable.

[@RedShiftedDollar]

@@joshuakent7887what is the value of a pan if not to cook food? The idea that removing rust reduced the ‘value’ is ridiculous. He can easily put that rust back by leaving the pan outside in the rain for a week. And a wire wheel might look aggressive but it’s not.

[@txmade4371]

Love this! And you pissing off all these so called experts. 😂

[@buffalopatriot]

I have two woodstoves manufactured in the 1890's that need some refurbishing. Thanks for the tips. Burgers up!

[@weilliam]

Would like to see a video of you cooking with this pan after all these years. Make these pansh collectors cry more.

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Good idea, we’re still using it all these years later 👍

[@JeffAboularage]

Thank you for making this video. I had a feeling that this was a better way to clean cast iron. But I was not sure! I have a whole chuckwagon full to clean that has been gifted to me!

[@kevinm8865]

Excellent work Jon! You're the type of guy another man could feel self-conscious around, when his wife is present. #Aspirations

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Hi Guy's...I found this Erie Cast Iron #9 712 "C" skillet when cleaning out the barn in Vermont and it turns out that these are big collector's items from the late 1890's selling for over $300 on ebay. It will be great to have this pan back in use at home.

[@2DayBob]

I found mine under a potting bench with a Wagner pan sitting in it. I had to dig it up as only part of it was above ground

[@fisherman2359]

Yea not collectible anymore because you took a power tool to it. You need an electrolysis tank. Way easier to restore and you don’t damage the iron and keeps its value of 300$.

[@johng416]

@@fisherman2359 100% correct

[@ericknoblauch9195]

I found a #11 Erie Cast Iron skillet buried in a pile of stuff being stored in a garage at an estate sale. It was priced at 12.00. I knew what it was, and the house had a lot of cast iron inside. I had cast iron collectors following me, and one of them tried to tell me it was not worth anything, and he was trying to persuade me to put it down, and not to buy it. I ended up buying about 20 pieces of cast iron there, and most of it was Griswold from the ERIE, Pennslyvania factory. The ERIE cast iron pans like the one you have in this video are pre-Griswold, and were manufactured in the same factory where the later pieces of cast iron marked with the Griswold, Erie, Pa was manufactured, and are highly collectible.

[@stonemanbytes]

@@ericknoblauch9195I hope you did a proper restoration on them unlike this hack job.

[@mjremy2605]

That's exactly right. I restore a lot of stuff and the wire brushing is the way to get all crud off a pan. Harbor Freight sells the 4" crimped wire brushes for $5 - a real deal. Wear goggles and an apron because those wires will not come off in laundry and poke you thru clothes. Nasty stuff. I like to wire brush off the crud, then sand it down from 80 to 150, then wire brush again to get the metal polish. You can buff it too on a bench grinder. When they cast these pans, the sand casting is left on which makes for a rough surface. In olden days, they sanded this off but they don't bother now. So you have to do it. Seasoning a pan - spray with PAM (Costco cheap) oil. Wipe to smear into very thin layer all over. Place in hot oven 10 mins. Repeat 3 times. Then spray only on the inside and do it for another 7 times to build up a VERY THIN LAYER OF COOKED OIL. This prevents rusting anywhere. After use wash, wipe dry, spray oil, smear with paper towel into a very thin layer and store. Thick layers of oil will gunk up the pan badly and back to square one. This seasoning works very well on carbon steel pans too.

[@maxpinson5002]

Glad to hear from someone that knows the difference between "seasoning" and burnt on built up gunk. "Seasoning" is down inside the pores of the iron that go from the inside to the outside of the pan. They can't be sanded away. No miracle oils or break in creams are necessary with a cast iron skillet, as well as the myth that metal utensils will "ruin" the finish inside the pan. Use it daily and keep it lightly greased and enjoy it. It's not a delicate china clay vase

[@jocmarti]

I've never seen that process for seasoning, but I am convinced you can't really mess up cast iron and even if you do, you can easily "reset" it.

[@macmcalear1994]

Great job! Love the fast forward.

[@MikeTrieu]

Just curious, why did you only treat the edges of the pan with the blowtorch and not the entire surface? I just did that with my cast iron wok and it makes the entire surface glassy smooth and completely non-stick after a few coats of high smoke point oil and an equal number of passes with the torch. I didn't even have to bother with using the stove. It Just Works™️

[@swillk1]

You hit the jackpot with that pan find. As soon as I saw the heat ring on the bottom I knew you had something special. Hang on to that one! Congrats on 400K!

[@christopheryuro5840]

I knew I smelled burgers the other day down at my house. Great job on a great pan. I love all my old ones. They cook the best.

[@hungry_arch]

Niiiiiice. Like the quick departure from woodworking.

[@dessertaz5560]

John great job! My mouth is watering looking at those cheese Burgers!!!!!!!

[@307mtb]

Have to say I've never seen it don't that way before but hell looks like it worked. I've been wanting for find an old rusty pan at a yard sell and smooth out the inside. Heard it makes cast iron even better

[@alexg7856]

Gas grills are great for seasoning cast iron too. I just did my carbon steel wok in mine. Just rub it down with some oil and put it upside down in there for 15 mins or so on mid-high and you get perfect seasoning on it.

[@MichaelScottPerkins]

I LOVE an old cast iron pan. This was a really cool video. And Dogfish head IPA is right up there in my top 5 fav beers.

[@Cradley684]

Oh Jon you are making our mouths water over here in UK very nice, Anyway you and your family have a Great Christmas and New Year !!!

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome find and restoration Jon! 👍🏻👊🏻 .... Now you got me in the mood for a burger! 😃🍔

[@amandabruney3835]

Very cool! Now come to East Texas and get all 10 of my cast irons done. Lol

[@bobjustbob5220]

That WAS a beautiful pan!

[@relearn1]

This man show how to get the job done without no bull.

[@patrickcras1]

Blessed Christmas and Harry New Year from Belgium

[@Michael-Makes-Stuff]

I’m not sure what looks better: the refurbished pan or that cheeseburger. 😂 Way to upcycle that old cast iron. Looks great! Another great video, Jon. Merry Christmas! 👍🏼

[@woodworkingandepoxy643]

thats a really good idea. theres a bunch of rusted ones at my local thrift stores for really cheap i could flip on ebay

[@SureIamLucky]

Thank you. Just Awesome; I will never pass up an Iron pan again. I wonder if my son still has my pan in his basement?

[@stevecollins9450]

Congrats on the 400K, Jon!

[@johnsholian4318]

I love our cast iron pans. Once they are seasoned it’s a simple matter of a quick water wash and a wipe down with a little oil. Like the torch work Jon!

[@SoleEpiphany]

Awesome video, keep churning out primo content my good sir.

[@SendItBilly]

Cast iron best to cook with.

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Good job! Jon! Thanks for sharing the video.👍😎JP

[@markbryan9989]

Oh thanks, now I am starved! Never thought about using the torch to melt the cheese and toast the buns but I seems like a good idea to speed things up. Nice pan!

[@dennisdownes9319]

Excellent video!!

[@tomsdreamshopworx]

What a great video! I learned a lot and had a few laughs. Two thumbs up!!

[@christofix]

Thanks Jon... now i'm getting hungry! 😂😂

[@chemcody5119]

Merry Christmas Jon!

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Merry Christmas Chem!

[@johnsiemssen6802]

I might consider a light grinding with a heavy duty teflon grinding pad for a badly pitted skillet my daughter bought me at a thrift store. The pitting is inside and out. It’s not unusable in the state it’s in now. I have tried everything else to no avail, including hand sanding.

[@mikedeman5351]

Great job on the pan . . . and the burger :)

[@pwhitlock10]

Nice work. Which M18 Milwaukee tool are you using there?

[@MartinMosman]

Always wondered what to do about those old cast iron pans we had around the house. My dad used to just replace them. I believe he has that exact same portable stove!

[@mjremy2605]

A cast iron pan can last 300 yrs no need to replace a single one.

[@davidgentz1731]

That's a good start now you need to get a wheel a grinder that can hold that thing just as flat and and it'll be just like Teflon eggs will slide around like they're on ice

[@pamelalittlefield4608]

Merry Christmas Jon :) !!

[@chrispagobo]

That burger looks yummy jon!

[@CastIronRestore]

You should consider an electrolysis tank instead of power tools. The grinders smear the pores of the iron making it difficult for the seasoning to bind. If you choose to do this, you should soak the cooking surface in vinegar to open the pores back up before you season.

[@BruceAUlrich]

You’re so great at telling a visual story. And the burger looked delicious, sans pickles. ;) I want to get that trigger attachment for my Bernzomatic. I have one that’s a little different. I do like that with mine, you don’t have to hold the trigger. Do you like working with the map gas more than propane? I have the propane but it takes a while to heat a branding iron.

[@SecretplaceintheGlory]

Well that escalated quickly 😅. That’s the way to get it done.

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Can anyone name that beer? : ) Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Just hit 400K ... Big Thanks to All!

[@AshKast]

Dogfish Head? And congrats on 400K.

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Thank you! Yes that’s it

[@odoylerules7536]

60 min? 90 min? Doesn't matter, both are delicious.

[@lebronjordan802]

Congratulations Jon 👍! Those 🍔's looks yummy 😋!!!!

[@gXXrGoNe]

Dogfish 60 Min Indian Pale Ale!

[@seagnatprepper9613]

quick and to the point ….. I like it

[@2tallB]

This is how you do it when you live in a camper out in the woods

[@khwalser]

Silly question, but what is the name of the tool you're using with the wire brush?

[@JonPetersArtHome]

No problem..it’s a grinder and that’s a wire wheel attachment

[@suzanneleblanc1077]

Good hob! Good hamburger, wish I had one now, LoL

[@DiannaAtherton]

Thank you for skipping the commentary, annoying music and life story 😅 You just went into the subject matter. New fan here.😊 What do you recommend for a high spot in the center of a 14" pan. Any fixes. Thanks

[@drummerdem50]

Great job , Thanks

[@badtothebone346]

what kind of tool is he using?

[@brianfindley8851]

Darn it...now I am hungry

[@Recovering_Californian]

BBQ Pit Boys!! ...pitmaster privilege.

[@bluesdirt6555]

Never knew !

[@Mathias_Mechanic]

Commercial for Milwaukee and Bernzomatic?

[@monkeywrench5942]

People never do what is done in this video. It destroys the value and natural surface of the cast iron. That skillet had real value before the power tools came now it's nothing

[@TravisMeeks6]

hell yes!!

[@mikesmicroshop4385]

I am so very glad that you did not burn your cast iron! There are so many that advocate that method. While it can be done it is all to easy to permanently damage the piece by over heating it and burning the iron! You get a reddish look to the cast iron where the structure of the iron has been changed and it will never take a seasoning in those areas correctly again! controlling the heating is difficult and it is to be avoided in refurbishing cast iron!

[@OldDunollieman]

LMAO! I've been seasoning my cast iron pot & pans for 50 years by throwing them into the fire pit heating them 2-3 hours , dousing them in cooking oil burn them some more, take them out clean them then season with good quality cooking oil, absolutely NO structural damage to the iron. You'd needa blast furnace to change the properties in cast iron. Sheeeeeeesh!

[@mikesmicroshop4385]

Yes and for 50 years you have most likely been damaging them! I am not going to argue with you an this point! As a metallurgist I can tell you that doing that changes the crystal structure of the iron and it is not going to take a seasoning correctly forever after that! It is not opinion it is verifiable science! You can do as you choose to but for all of the people that want to take care of their cast iron do not burn your pans! You do not have the temperature control necessary to be able to prevent damage! If you see a reddish brown hue in the metal that will not come off it is damaged in those areas! The pores of the iron will not let the seasoning penetrate and it will never be able to as the iron has been altered in structure! You do not need a blast furnace to over heat iron, you need one to melt it but not to damage the structure of the iron! After that you do need a blast furnace to remelt the iron so that the crystalline structure can reform as it was before your damaged it! There is no reason to heat cast iron to the point that it glows red as is the case when people burn their pans! If you are a blacksmith that is working the iron that is a different story! The working of the iron alters the structure as well but in a different way than over heating a finished product!

[@OldDunollieman]

Not damaged at all, never seen a reddish brown hue after taking them out of the fire pit , I've got two each 15" & 12" skillets and a 6Qt. Dutch oven and they're like the day I got them and they were old then but you're entitled to your "facts" I'm entitled to keep doing what works best for me.

[@mikesmicroshop4385]

I believe that if you recall say that "You can do as you choose"! If you have gotten away with this method then you are lucky!! I unlike you do not have the luxury of being able to ignore how metals can be altered by excess heat! If like you believe that it takes a blast furnace to change iron, then Tempering in a 400 degree oven would be impossible! I have seen hundreds of ruined pots and pans at auctions, yard sales,, and flea markets over the years that have been burned! Like I said "You can do as you choose", and if you have not ruined your cast iron, you will at some point! There are several ways to clean Cast Iron without the risk of damaging it, throwing it into a fire is not one of them end of story!

[@OldDunollieman]

There are literally tens of thousands of people who do exactly what I do with NO damage to their cast iron pots, pans etc. etc End of story.

[@MrTubeman123456]

Just what I wanted to see thanks I want to remove the cheap Chinese coating on my new cheap cast iron skillet thank you great video

[@louisGauto]

Doesn't this over smoothen the pores?

[@andrewwatkins9901]

Where did you get the grinder wheel?

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Should be able to find it at any hardware store or home store

[@cynthialowe7227]

A 50/50 vinegar bath would have been less labor intensive and all rust would have been removed, ready to season.

[@natelarge]

A project is good it works, a project is better if it looks good, and a project is best if it fills your stomach with tasty meat.

[@Aprendiz-de-Marceneiro]

great

[@countryboyscansurvive4624]

Grind away, my friend looks like a nice pan you have.

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Oh yeah!👍

[@TheCabanamancan]

What is that metal brush attachment called

[@tomsdreamshopworx]

Mike Hudson it looked like a wire cup wheel.

[@Scrufboy]

Late, late comment... I've got a older set of Wagner Cast iron.... The cost of buying that Milwaukee tool and the other gear to restore the pan.... I might as well sell it and just buy a new Field #10 cast iron pan. Wish I knew a guy with those tools.

[@Scrufboy]

@@JH-hw4yh Yeah... I use them daily

[@bouldervon7487]

Not bad Jon. I am working a 1940 griddle flip grill right now. Worst I have ever seen.

[@Oduncukiz]

It's 05:04 am and I need burger.

[@1806StoneHouse]

All we use is cast iron.. best way to cook steaks in my opinion.. eggs, not so much.... 😂

[@kingfish9764]

You have made something old new again, should get years of use out of that old frying pan, nice job. The brew looks like a Dog Fishead 60 Minute IPA. Merry Christmas to you John Peters.

[@BMWLDRider]

Use lard (Crisco) to season next time.

[@johnwilliamson7081]

Dogfish I think.........Love the slow mo shots

[@RonaldJS]

Mustard and onion a whole lot less ketchup and I'd have a couple myself.

[@hotrodhog2170]

With mayo too!

[@RonaldJS]

@@hotrodhog2170 Here in Texas we would call that a California style Burger.

[@thomaskleinbauer6518]

Don't think it can get any more manly than that!

[@HyborianAge]

Wow

[@dolam]

Why didn’t you clean all the crud off the bottom? 🤦‍♂️

[@crunchman12002]

Great video on how to ruin a skillet in less than 2 minutes!

[@JonPetersArtHome]

Awesome! thanks appreciate the comment…been using it for years now and it works great 👍

[@Patryn71]

He didn't ruin the skillet, he ruined the collectible value of the skillet. It will work perfectly fine for years to come, just like when people fix a broken handle. But it's only value is now as a great user, not as a collectible piece.

[@markrowland5393]

1. Congratulations on 400,000! 2. Pleased to see you haven't succumbed to veganism. Cheeseburger, yummy!

[@pablozalduondo8478]

Slow motion water pouring lol

[@askledhead]

That skillet is an 1800s piece, looks like its hardly been used.✌

[@matthewtriplett45]

Not your standard video styler. you’re normally very clear and easy to follow with your dialogue

[@chriscostlow4210]

No no no! Just throwing the pan on a piping hot fire outside for 5 minutes pull it off and from a safe distance pour cooking oil on it. It will sizzle, smoke then catch fire. Let the fire burn out on its own. Then pour oil on it again wipe it with a rag and your done. If it's not rotted and pitted deep with rust it'll be brand new. 15 minutes process.

[@amcnichol9952]

Lol blast the fuck out of everything with the blow torch! Works great on eyebrows.

[@FrankBooger]

Way to kill that skillet😂

[@erlycuyler]

Man, quit taking speed! Lol. JK.

[@holdmybeer]

no intro, no talking about stupid children, or nagging wife. just how a tutorial should be.

[@estherbauer8216]

This is not a true video. There should be a ton again a ton of black crap everywhere. I tried this. It was a horrible mess. Did get most of the crap off though. Be prepared to clean everything within a 15 foot area use disposable products as well. Anything that touches this stuff will be ruined

[@timlewis6777]

What not to do

[@dessertman1181]

No way I’m eating that yikes

[@stonemanbytes]

I cringed seeing that wire wheel hitting that beautiful old Erie. A 50/50 vinegar/water bath would have done just fine.

[@michaelalford3722]

Me too

[@mrsseasea]

Me too!

[@howarddeheer8295]

Me to. So many people have no idea how to clean cast iron cookware

[@user-tz2zz5ij1s]

Why would you cringe, both remove the rust and cause you to have to reseason. Cast iron is the same throughout so it’s not like you are removing a magical layer.

[@ZCRAIZED1]

Wire wheels work great!

[@mikey510]

down vote because of the excessive slow motion and the ASMR. this could have been a great video. instead you made it cringe

[@RobRobertson1000]

Ha :) loved it till you got to the cheese. WHAT IS IT with you Americans and all that cheese on everything????? :) :) :) Merry Christmas from Down Under Jon

[@mikesmicroshop4385]

That is why it is called a CHEESE burger! Without it it is just a burger!

[@slowgynman1234.]

AND????🙄

[@vvtubevvv]

Now we're cooking with gas.