Testing Vintage Cast Iron for Lead with Cotton Swabs

[@ladylibertystacker2014]

I should try this on an old ERIE popover pan I am stripping at the moment along with a few other pans. Great idea and reminders!

[@DennisNowland]

I just want to tell you I love your channel. It gives sound advice.

[@jeffreyfwagner]

In one of my past jobs we used acetic acid to remove lead from the surface of cast iron. That lead came from leaded gasoline. Perhaps if you find a pan that has lead, try acetic acid and then re-test.

[@tomgalli1188]

What a great video! Fantastic way to affordably test large purchases.

[@brianpresley6998]

Very good idea. I guess we should all be doing this when uncertain.

[@rchristophermathis6372]

Great idea! Thank you!

[@jlc904ubc]

Thanks, great info.

[@castironkev]

Definitely a great idea- I've only had 1 positive out in thousands of restorations (corn cob Wagner) PS put on some gloves sir! 🤣🤣

[@castironchaos]

Lead contamination is extremely rare...but not impossible, which is why we do it. And yes, I agree I should have worn gloves when dropping those pieces into the lye tank. :P

[@garybaste3589]

an alternative solution to cutting the tube open(since apparently the chemicals are toxic(as the directions of this product indicate) - break the tube (at a and b) and then squeeze the chemical out onto the q-tip directly rather then cutting it open.

[@RustyNail5856]

Great info. thanks.

[@Opal-L]

I used 5 tests of a different brand are supposed to turn (darker orange then red with high enough levels of lead) to test a 3 notch lodge i just bought. theres bare spots on the seasoning so i test there as well as seasoned areaa after scrubbing the rust out with some BKF but all i see is what seems to be a sooty dark gray color, is this just iron coming off the pan? I don't see any tinge of pink or red, but i can't help but feel uneasy since if it is dirt i'm not sure if i can tell under the contamination color... though i do think it would be exceptionally rare for someome to use a 12 inch (#10) skillet to melt lead who knows

[@castironchaos]

It sounds like there may simply be old seasoning coming off of the pan, or perhaps some rust. Those lead tests are very accurate on the surface, so I'd suggest you simply strip the pan and season it.

[@nancyanderson6404]

Thank you again. I never checked mine. They are seasoned well now. Do i still need to check them? I have about 11.

[@JoelFriedlander]

Is there a chance that you are actually testing the seasoning, and that you need to get closer to the bare metal to be certain the lead test is accurate?

[@castironchaos]

The seasoning on those pans was scraped off or nonexistent before I tested them. It's a good idea to scratch off the seasoning in the testing area, I agree. Regardless, I probably didn't have to test the waffle iron anyway. :)

[@user-sr9bi2uu8w]

A controlled test is needed to see if the lead test kit is accurate. Get an old pan, melt some lead in it, scrub it out and see if the test detects lead.

[@castironchaos]

That's what the card with the lead samples is for.

[@theresaburnstein5620]

I have a lot of seasoned pans, a few of which are just user pans that are marked Taiwan. Can I test them without stripping them? Will the lead show up through the seasoning? One is a small dutch oven that is undergoing its first round of seasoning now.

[@castironchaos]

If you’re concerned, you could scratch away a little of the seasoning at the spot you want to test. For the record, lead contamination is very rare...though not impossible, which is why we do it.

[@drd8251]

And what if they do test +? Unsalvageable?

[@mattymacdonald1]

Use them for bullets and sinkers lol

[@castironchaos]

Lead is essentially permanent, so a pan would have to be treated in a manner so that it would never be used for cooking again. That would probably mean breaking it with a big hammer.

[@castironkev]

Yea, not recommended for cooking if positive. You cant truly get it all off!

[@jblooz2371]

Most people drill a hole in the middle and make a clock out of it.

[@redwingblackbird8306]

The test seems to dry up, i wonder how effective it was, on some of the pans tested later.

[@castironchaos]

That's why I double-checked the last pan with the second, unopened, test.

[@scotmaciver]

These 3M tests are horrible. I've taken so many back. I've been trying to help folks but I use these off Amazon. You get 30 swabs for 16 bucks versus 3M where you get only 2 for 10. They dry up, some don't have as much liquid. They are junk. Get these. I've been through 2 packs and not once has any failed. I always have a lead weight that I test after my iron to confirm working. Thank me later. And Trump2020!!!! www.amazon.com/Testing-Results-Seconds-Suitable-Surfaces/dp/B07NBH7KJJ/ref=pd_nav_hcs_rp_3/139-4641889-2059765?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07NBH7KJJ&pd_rd_r=613a8f72-34e2-4fcf-b8f5-97d330a1a265&pd_rd_w=wEktT&pd_rd_wg=pW1ef&pf_rd_p=b90f7456-95ee-4d98-80f8-00c4e91c331c&pf_rd_r=98M3BN9D4DKXCQMW1GZQ&psc=1&refRID=98M3BN9D4DKXCQMW1GZQ

[@hoapearce2089]

Word of caution: I tried this tonight and the glass fragments from the vials holding the chemicals stuck to my cotton swab and when I swabbed my cast iron (that is pretty much stripped of all seasoning), it ended up leaving scratches. I am running it through another round of oven cleaner soak. We shall see if the scratches come off. It's probably not a big deal because the seasoning will take care of it, but I thought I would share my experience.

[@ReclusiveMountainMan]

Those swabs are toxic themselves.

[@castironchaos]

Yes, but they don't adhere to the metal in the manner that lead does.

[@ReclusiveMountainMan]

@@castironchaos Good to know. I'll pick some up. I need to test a few old skillets. Been reluctant to use them for family means without thoroughly testing them.