TheMudbrooker's Guide to Cast Iron: Restoration

[@mcchuggernaut9378]

I'm a young man who has just gotten into thrifting for antiques. I wasn't looking for vintage cast iron, but I grabbed an old cast-iron skillet at Goodwill a couple months ago when I saw it for 99 cents because I heard they hold heat well and do the best job of searing a steak of any type of cookware, and that old ones can be valuable heirlooms which can last for generations. I wasn't expecting it to be a particularly valuable one, and I left it sitting around the house for a month after finding out it needed stripped and seasoned and identified, and needed to research how to do all that. Turns out it's a Wagner Ware circa 1924 - 1935, in excellent condition, and these are supposedly worth a decent amount. I'm about to attempt my first strip and season, and this video was a GREAT help! Thanks a lot for teaching me something! Hopefully I will be using it the rest of my life and passing it to the next generation.

[@cmcken1]

I'm a process engineer and I gotta say, this is an excellent video resource complete with safety concerns disclosed up front and center throughout. This chap is an excellent teacher. The video flows and is laid out nicely. Process step by process step with methodologies and options laid out complete with pros and cons for each method. I love this video - it's helping me learn about my cast iron cookware way more than any other video I've seen on here to date. Appreciate the effort in making of this video.

[@californiaeveryday]

I'm a manufacturing engineer.

[@ingemarrydberg3045]

I use to think that a 20 minutes youtube video is to long to watch but here I am on a friday night drinking a glass of wine and watching a 34 minutes long video of restoring a frying pan. Thank you for a really informative video!

[@carlvu7]

Watch at 1.5x speed to move to consume more content.

[@lorivilneff2538]

I could listen to this guy all day long, he needs to narrate EVERY video on the internet.

[@mangopog9814]

Lori Vilneff true, I got better sleep than with Sleeping pills.

[@miketheplumber448]

He Lori, I noticed he is not wearing a wedding ring... Make your move before Everett does.

[@ohbuddyiliketowatch]

Ditto

[@lumenmom]

I did not know you could restore cast iron before today. I learned a lot and now I feel more confident buying one of the pans I walk past all the time at Goodwill.

[@richardmalone3172]

I don't have a cast iron pan and came across your video by accident. I found it really interesting. You have a very easy to listen to voice.

[@bonniemechefske3838]

Tip: if you dont have/can't find washing soda you can make your own. For electrolysis you need sodium carbonate. Take baking soda (sodium BIcarbonate) spread onto a cookie sheet an inch deep or less and bake at 400 for an hour. This removes a carbon molecule. So instead of 2 cabon (BIcarbonate) you now have one (carbonate). You know its done when its changes from powdery to grainy. Washing soda is hard to find here and expensive but I love to use it for all kinds of things. Have been making my own for a long time. Thank you for such a thorough video with extra safety tips most people don't cover (ie: chrome plating in electrolysis)

[@HaydenHatTrick]

It's very very rare a video actually addresses my experience as a chemist directly. Your information is very precise and you have a good understanding of what you're doing. You avoid a lot of common mistakes that catch almost everyone out, also your sense of scale and measure is a good fit for the task. I'm very impressed and it's a breath of fresh air.

[@pamelabeaton7834]

Just salt and a potato works well for me. I'll never do this it's insane just hot water. If you need to boil water. And put into sink. Let pan sit a bit. Take salt rub her down real good rinse dry on stove top. Never any chemical or soap ever.

[@JamesAhrens]

This is a great video. Your voice is perfect for an instructional/educational video and you do a superb job of demonstrating essential technique. I like how you give a few different methods for cleaning cast ironware. The first couple methods are clearly easier and less effective and then you lead into the highly suggested (electrolysis) method. Thank you for adding the seasoning tips as well. Great job.

[@TheMudbrooker]

I'm going to be doing a demonstration on using lye and vinegar baths in the near future.

[@jnelchef]

This video wins the award for the most use of the word crud. Great video!

[@gharp722]

ROTFL

[@ReclusiveMountainMan]

@@gharp722 Cast iron can get really cruddy

[@peterudbjorg]

Yup. That’s how it’s done. Oven cleaner, garbage bags, scrubbing things, hot water, patience, elbow grease. I have what’s probably a gallon size iron pot I found, it had been used as a planter (!), but, The Method worked. And now it’s my favourite pot for Large Soups. :)

[@Fishbizkut]

I never comment but I could listen to you teach about anything. Excellent video!! Thank you for the information!!!❤

[@MsTemptation]

I remember scrubbing the crud off of my grandmother's cast iron skillets. That was a wonderful task for a [then] twelve year girl with zero experience on how to remove decades of grease and food that were built up around the sides of the skillets. But I did it and surprised my mom with the results of my efforts. I love cast iron cookware because the more you use it the more nonstick it becomes.

[@ramabamaboomboom]

I did the same thing. Thought I was cleaning that "dirty black skillet" mom cried..was her grandmothers 🧐

[@jansoriano3889]

Its good exercise and keeps your hands, fingers and ,nails clean too.

[@rexsmith9577]

@@ramabamaboomboom Why'd she cry? Just re-season, and it is better than new!

[@Anna-tc6rz]

@@rexsmith9577 a lot of people view it as family history. Its like she washed the history away or something.

[@frankiefrank4853]

Being genuine goes a long way. Thanks for taking the time and effort.

[@HelpBeyondChurch1]

😂😂😂 Home version of the Hindenburg!!!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. This is the first video I’ve ever seen of yours and it’s great!! Very informative; not boring, just the right amount of dry humor which is hilarious by the way! Thanks for the videos!

[@vickieheinrichs6939]

I had pans from my mother who passed away in 1987. They had so much buildup on the outside of them that I did not know what it was. When I put them in my oven and clean them all I was left with was a ton of Ash! There was no rust or any other imperfections and it worked beautifully. Now I know I didn't do anything wrong because of your video telling me it's okay to clean them in the oven! Thank you so much

[@arch-aidecontracting5016]

Good job ! you took the time and care for a bit of elbow grease, but those look great - you gave them a whole new life -that's some pretty serious respect for something we can get so much use and value from

[@faden2bleu]

Besides these videos being so interesting? I find it interesting that you know so much. Thank you for these videos. I have learned so much.

[@joycleveland5534]

Awesome Video , wonderful you show step by step. For this old gal I appreciate that . I have many cast iron pans that were my grandma's and to think of what was cooked in them is a great memory ! Thanks for sharing with us ! looking forward to the seasoning video. Great Job !

[@joannehickey7047]

My mum used to make us scrub the cast-iron pots and pans inside and out, with coarse salt, wipe then dry then place them in the oven of out woodstove, once they were dry and cooled we had to wipe them with olive oil.... I'm 56 now and mum's cast-iron cook ware is still going strong and has never had any rust. My Grandparents were Retired British Army people who were born in the 1890's... they taught my mum, and she taught us. Sure they're heavy, but you only really need to replace them once every couple of generations so you definitely get your money's worth. By the way. .. your voice is amazing! So, very easy to listen and pay attention to.

[@tubularfrog]

Excellent video. You have a natural knack for instructing these methods. Electrolytic stripping is my favorite method to clean these old cast iron works of art.

[@LisaCampbellMEDIA]

What a thorough and informative video! I just purchased a cast iron WOK and your vid will certainly help me to care for it. Thank you sir! 🙂

[@acts10truth]

I forgot to thank you for the great video, that you went to a lot of trouble to make. There was a lot of good points

[@susangrande8142]

I love hearing the Spring Peepers in this video! Reminds me of when I lived in rural Iowa 25 years ago. Such a lovely, natural sound! (They’re @28:11.) Thanks, Mudbrooker! 🙏

[@999Giustina]

Yes! The bag works like magic! Works very well with oven racks also. Tip: don't get oven cleaner on any aluminium foil (such as in the bottom of the oven) or other aluminium surface as the result will be a chemical fire. Yes, as a teenager I found this out when there was smoke coming out of my garbage can!

[@sandradavis4359]

Great video. Will come in handy on my 50 year old 15” skillet.

[@deficientgirl4224]

Love the multiple tactics with the added convenience factor! So much knowledge. Now, I want to go scour Goodwill!

[@johnwest1900]

I Love your program and Knowlege. I loved cast iron all my life 86 years

[@karennicholson6972]

Great video with very clear instructions! Thank you for sharing - I LOVE good cast iron equipment & I enjoyed seeing it restored & appreciated :-) Please make more videos - so useful!

[@torfinnjohnsrud793]

I bought a 12" lodge last year and love it. It's already fantastic, but in a few decades it'll be a vintage beauty. Nothing like starting your own legacy pan. Someday it'll be revered like the old vintage ones we find today

[@AWWx2]

Thanks for this long demonstration video. Those were great prices for used pans, well worth the effort to restore.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Its really surprising what you can find with a little luck and patience.

[@richardalvis4695]

4 minutes into your video I knew I was going to enjoy them. Straight to the point of topic, no extra blah blah blah. You know what your talking about and Im a cast iron collector, freak, hoarder or whatever word attaches to my obsession. Vintage and quality are my only two requirements. Keep it up and thanks for your time and effort in making your videos. Salutations from Savannah, Ga.

[@CherylConti]

This is very interesting. My skilliet from my Grandmother has a million years of buildup on the sides. It was like that when I was a kid, I am 65 now and it is still cooking like that. It never dawned on me to erase all those years of fried chicken grease. After watching this very well presented video, I took another look at Momma Hodges skillet. All of my cast iron is clean and smooth and so non stick from years of me using them. Hers, Grandma's, is like she was.....I am leaving that pan alone. She could rise up and hit me in the head with it. Peace.

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

Cheryl, both my folks died in 2006 and one of the things I took from the empty home was a cast iron pan my Mom bought at a garage sale when she was in her 20's. I too am 65 and doing the math this old carbon crusted pan must be over 80 years old. Just like you I am afraid to mess with a historic fully functional incredible piece of art and part of family history. All those years my Mom did what all the experts frown on and that is she used regular dish soap after cooking but would always dry the pan by a fairly high burner flame. Now days I use a stiff brush under scalding hot water to clean. Sometimes I have used course salt , I also have a commercial cast iron cleaning jell. And I sometimes after heating to dry will rub in some organic flax oil. Part of me wants to know what the brand of pan is and age but my Mom put all that carbon on that pan and I dont want to spray a bunch of chemicals on it...Cheers!

[@SuperHelper2]

Cheryl Conti 😂😂😂😂😂😂❤️💯

[@mangopog9814]

Cheryl Conti true, cleaning that would be a sin, just think of the memories down the drain, NO WAY, WOULD O DO THAT TO MY MAMMY, (that’s what we called her, she was born in 1899) God bless her memory.

[@MrGaryGG48]

One branch of our family had an old hunting cabin in the hills north of our valley for many decades and their kids and grandkids would gather off and on all summer most years. Grandpa had his cast iron pans that had accumulated over the decades and he was just a wee bit "possessive!!" One of the daughters-in-law, trying to step in and help with the cleanup, dropped a large cast iron pan into the dishwater tub and went to work on it. Yup, Grandpa just happened to walk by as she was scouring the crap out of it with a Brillo pad and soap. You'd have thought somebody had killed one of his kids; he screeched and squawked until you could hear him clear across the yard. He would wipe out the pan with a rag, and ONLY use sand to scour with and then he re-seasoned it with grease. He'd been doing it that way for 60+ years and no damn kid was gonna change his mind!! ;^) After that, one or another of those "kids" would step up occasionally and offer to help "clean" the pots & pans. Grandpa would start to let loose at them and then look around and see an audience observing the performance and he'd know they were just yankin' his chain a bit. ;^)

[@revbarbarasnyder5660]

Happy days! My grandma's skillets have cruddy sides too. I'm 77. My mom was born in 1915. These were her mom's. They're cooking just fine.

[@MHow-qc3ns]

You are an excellent teacher, your lessons and ideas are crystal clear. They illustrate exactly what can be accomplished. Your speaking cadence reminds me of Garrison Keillor and is very nice to the ear -- not preachy and encourages the pupil to continue listening. A very nice experience. Thank you.

[@P11247]

You had me at the beginning, but lost me at the end with the electrolysis machine. LOL

[@larrypesek8818]

Ask 10 people how to clean and re season Cast Iron and you can get 12 different methods... Great job explaining the ones you show here ! It should be mentioned that restoring vintage hollow ware can be contagious and can lead to 'Castironitis' - an affliction of acquiring cast iron , because, "It was a great deal"... :)

[@familyluv1762]

Me and my husband restore cast cookware too. We luv to cook with them. My GPA Hubert and GMA Jessie always used one. I clean with self cleaning oven wash with a pad and then oil and bake. They are amazing to use. Nothing like them, add a special home cooked taste. Allot of people don't like to use. Just gotta learn to cook at a lower temp and slower. The even heat from cast cooks everything evenly. Bake a stew in a Dutch oven and wow the flavor is amazing.

[@wizard3z868]

lower temp is one im struggling with my grill pan wife gets pissed i smoke up the whole house but she loves the taste of food

[@mistakenreaper2285]

That's very cool, man. What used you that was for you to clean but the oven cleaner. I remember back in the day. My grandfather spending all day just scraping stuff off

[@kimeverhart6253]

Beautiful work! I think it’s quite wonderful to save those wonderful and oh so useful old skillets! They really are just some of the best cookware ever! Great job!

[@Ridiculi]

This video is GREAT. I want to take all of my cast iron down to bare metal. Thank you!

[@QuantumMech_88]

Very nice and large reverse electrolysis tank and nice setup . Am I the only guy who uses a round sanding pad on an electric drill to get cast iron glass smooth ? A bead blaster using fine sand comes in handy . Thanks for a great video and all the best .

[@j.b.9581]

Excellent video! The methods that you use are not destructive to the pans (such as sandblasting or tossing into an open flame). I have a charger just like the one in the video (runs to set up an electrolysis tank after dropping keyboard to run out the door . . .). . . upon returning, I would like for everyone to know that the best oil for high heat cooking in cast iron is Avocado Oil. It has a heat point of 500 degrees.

[@70washington]

Flax Seed Oil is good to use for curing and cooking in the pans. If you for what ever reason need to store cast iron for long term.. 1+ year use flax seed oil.. cur it 4 times, 450 in the oven for each coat for 2 hrs each coat. Makes a bit of smoke in the house so open windows and doors.

[@maxcorder2211]

@@70washington I have watched several cast iron restoration videos recently as I have a Dutch oven that needs it. Half recommended flax seed oil and the other half swear against it. Probably no real harm done. I use Avocado oil.

[@Trucker1957]

I love cast iron cookware, that's all I use. I have an old Lodge set imprinted on the bottom with Cracker Barrel, that I bought at the Cracker Barrel restaurants back in the late 1980's.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Lodge has done quite a few pans like that, company logos, wildlife scenes and such, they're pretty cool.

[@rosafranco9184]

I finally learned how to do it right, excellent, thank you but I would never try electrólisis too complicated for me. Enjoyed this video ,thank you very much

[@TheMudbrooker]

You're welcome.

[@mozu517]

Excellent tutorial! Never heard of electrolysis used in this context before. Don't think I'll try it myself, but very interesting nonetheless. Now I'm hooked on your channel!

[@ConnieVanzant]

WOW....so thankful for this....I have two skillets I purchased from thrift shops that need cleaning......I never thought about using oven cleaner....

[@victoriastevens3166]

:) I just watched Stacy use a magic rust eraser! And lol, IT WORKED!

[@arielenriquez8750]

Terrific video. I've used this method for many applications besides cleaning cast iron. Nothing new to me here. But I have to commend you on your pup. He's a beaut! Makes you one lucky dog..

[@GS-st9ns]

I'm glad you said use the self cleaning oven, because I always do. Only in the winter time so it heats the house up a little more. They do come out Rusty, but they just get a little scrub and it's all good

[@JodBronson]

Here is another way... Spray some Oven Cleaner all over it. Bring it outside and open your grill, BURN THE HELL out of it. Once cool, bring it back inside and clean it and EVERYTHING is gone!

[@GWMRed]

@@JodBronson which brings me back to cost/benefit analysis vs. a new pan. I think the best conclusion from the analysis is emotional: satisfaction of restoration, whether an heirloom or rescued junk: 1 more item for which scarce resources weren't used to manufacture the replacement

[@JodBronson]

@@GWMRed - Buy a new one! A can of Oven Clean is $6.99. A new Pan is $8.99 = NO WORK !!! LMFAO

[@landofevolution9757]

Vinegar bath for rust. Ive heard one way to avoid flash rust is start adding your oil while still wet. I actually just used my castile soap to scrub off rust after a lye bath. and then just dried with towel right away after rinsing and oiled it up quick. It worked really well!

[@manny-perez]

Great video, very professionally done!

[@johnvaldez8830]

Cast Iron is a wonderful way to cook. It works well, and a good seasoned pan is better than any Teflon coating. My grandmother used cast iron for all of her cooking and it was the best in the world.

[@robertgoidel]

Well, I guess I should have watched your great video before I even assumed if you use car battery charger. You certainly do know, great video of instruction. Thanks!

[@nadinemoonihoawa2879]

Omg!! This is us exciting!!! I need and can't wait to do this. Thank you. Wish I saw this earlier. Than you👍🤗🤗🤗

[@sandrasears3981]

My pan came from the junk yard, covered in rust. I had it sand blasted and then seasoned it to bring it back to pristine condition.🍳

[@markbir7979]

Great video. Very informative. I have about 30 pieces of of cast iron. Some ove 100 yrs old I live in the southeast so mostly mine are BSR. Cant teally know about tha older ones. Thanls again for so much great information.

[@lanyard2202]

That voice is amazing. There goes a dude who does not do stress.

[@ahorseman4ever1]

Probably the most inclusive video I have watched on rehabilitating cast iron. You earned my subscription. Both my girlfriend and I both agree this is the best cast iron restoration video we have watched.

[@mrsseasea]

so much great info. thank you for the electrolysis info. I want to build one, and you gave all info. for me to build one! thank you again.

[@barbarabullock140]

I have been watching your older videos and very impressive.

[@inkey2]

my late mother lived to 95 years old. She used the same old cast iron pan for 70 years. It was solid black and thick with crud from decades of use. She claimed these pans had to be tempered with "time and use". She made the best corn bread in that pan.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Crud on the sides isn't a problem, but too much on the bottom makes it heat unevenly.

[@QuantumMech_88]

@inkey2 - Bless your mom and respect .

[@inkey2]

@@QuantumMech_88 and,,,,,,,,,,,mom was one of " thirteen " children during the great depression.....no joke

[@QuantumMech_88]

My mom was one of 6 kids and was a cook for ranch hands during the depression .

[@andreapuskas4961]

You bettcha! I'm using my Moms 12 and 8 inch ones right now cooking ahead for deer season and thanksgiving dinners. I'm 70 yrs old. These were my Grandmas from the 1890s. Thet COOK JUST LIKE SHE DID IT, !My folks were raised during the depression also. They taught us well. Still grow Tomatos and make my own wine,, and hunt for meat.

[@gordonhood6265]

Thanks for the video, nicely done. I've used all the methods you've described. I have 19 pieces of cast iron cookware from my great grandmother who passed them on my grandmother to my mother to me. Really covered with heavy crude. Using the oven proved disastrous, it filled the house with smoke and a stench you wouldn't believe. $30 worth of oven cleaner was way to costly, labor intensive and very slow. I found lye to be quickest, cost effective method for my purposes and was easy to remove the crude with a 1 inch square copper brush. I did strain the dirty lye solution & will have to deal with disposing of the liquid. I did use your seasoning method & it is spot on !! Many thanks for the tutorial.

[@thomasbarron4423]

I've been slowly converting all my cookware to castiron. My hasn't noticed yet as I've been tossing the teflon coated stuff we have. The coating has started flaking and peeling. Castiron can be better than teflon nonstick in my opinion and isnt toxic like teflon. Not to mention castiron is darn near indestructible and makes a great home defense tool when applied properly🤭. My grandmother passed a lot of really, really, REALY old cast iron cookware to my mo. And her sisters when she passed. I remember on many occasions her telling me her grandmother cooked on some of the items she owned. Thanks for the video I learned a lot.

[@jasonkaminski6230]

super tips! very helpful for a fellow CI restorer.

[@jeannieelliott9703]

Beautiful surroundings! Maryland, eastern Ohio?? anyway, You should be a science teacher. Very knowledgeable and articulate. lovelovelove this whole video.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Wisconsin.

[@barbdavis6838]

Thank you so very much for sharing this. I have a dutch oven that needs to be done. I got it from my Daddy. This will help me do that. Kneady sent me here. 💙💙💙 I see that I'm way late on this video. 😊😊

[@andymarge]

Great info, very informative with wonderful instructions.

[@jimandrews8528]

I have a NAFCO pan that i just use every day. I found out is was NAIL AND FOUNDRY COMPANY made in Newfoundland while we were a country. I still use it every day but I pay attention. You have got to love the good stuff.

[@dimidomo7946]

Good teaching video Mud. I noticed your supervisor was looking in on you figuring he might find a few treats. 🐶🍗

[@ronshuman7656]

sir i have just started trying to find cast iron pans ect. my mom was born and raised in virginia,she did have and use cast iron back when i was young. so im somewhat familier with them even though i never knew much about finding and restoring them. i now live in florida and so far i have 4 or 5 ive had just hanging on the wall so after watching some videos i went to cleaning..and found out i have a nice wagner corn cob pan,and a criswald and a very nice 151/2 in pan that is unmarked but is twin to the 15 in bsr, but heres what happened after watching a few videos one guy said just build a fire and put the pan in for 24 hrs...i found out before trying this it would ruin the pan. so thankfully i didnt do that. the other thing was YOU said when doing electrologist ,to make sure to use bicarbonate of soda not baking soda. so my wife had a big box of baking soda and we got into a heated argument that you said bicarbonate to use, then i looked it up and it said the are the same thing, just different brands calls them different names. so please give us beginners the right info...just to keep our wives happy. thanks for the help

[@lisathornton8912]

I love the tone of your voice.

[@fahadyounus1]

Why is this so satisfying to watch.. I don’t even cook

[@theresas709]

There is something about people cleaning up old cast iron that makes me so happy. They look great but I have never seen anyone use butter to season.

[@TheMudbrooker]

It's clarified butter so it doesn't scorch like regular butter does. It works very nicely.

[@fritzcolburn]

My grandmother used straight lard and I seem to remember my great grandmother using bacon fat. I could be wrong there though.

[@1953SM]

@@fritzcolburn My mother used to use lard to cook with and season pans but I use olive oil to cook with and I save my filtered bacon grease to fry eggs and potatoes to add a little more flavor and season pans with so you can use either.

[@icefishinnhnewhampshire7688]

Just saw your video on my random home selections great info and content cast iron is awsome cookware I just bought a home and on the fisher wood stove in the basement was a beautiful cast iron dutch oven with lid and tool for pick g up oven and lid removal your tips will bring it back to life again thank you

[@bigreddoggy55]

That crud is gonna clog them pipes... Great video . Rinse outside.. My granny woulda kilt me.. Sanding works well also.. Too each his own

[@Anna-tc6rz]

You cant rinse that off outside, its toxic you idiot.

[@donaldshields2483]

Yes I did enjoy the video and you seem to explain stuff very well and it seem to have a good product when you got through there it looked very good I don’t know much about iron frying pans but it look like it was pretty good so I’ll be watching for your other videos God bless

[@EagleRun23]

dang, wish I found this before i started my project. I subbed.

[@TheMudbrooker]

You live and you learn. I gotta admit, it was tough watching you make things so much harder than they needed to be. :)

[@EagleRun23]

Josh Rick I got her corrected. And best news, she earned a spot in the kitchen! Wifey approves.

[@jameslaupan6499]

I love your videos, and have learned plenty from you. One statement you made causes me concern however. From experience I learned that using a brass or copper brush is not a good idea. The brass brush will definitely leave a yellowish stain. The copper will leave a redish stain and will look like rust staining even after 5 coats of seasoning. I now will only use the stainless steel pads, or sos or brillo pads, they leave no stain and are relatively cheap to work with. I'll continue to watch, you continue to teach, and I'm sure my pots and pans will benefit in the end.

[@robbyritter4245]

I found an older Lodge grill pan in an antique store not too long ago and only stripped the inside because the outside has such a beautiful seasoning. The inside of the pan was definitely useable but for some reason people love to grill fish in grill pans and I just didn't want to throw out a steak that tasted like fish without stripping the inside first.

[@mgkelly3389]

Thank you for such good advice. Great looking dog, by the way!

[@jamesmcmillan7845]

I have one, was my Grandmother Skillet, Wagner sold un-named cast iron at Woolworth and Walgreen's and it was the best stuff they made

[@MHow-qc3ns]

James McMillan: The info about Woolworth and Walgreens is very interesting. I just love finding trivia like this. Thank you for sharing.

[@schairphoenix4059]

Not sure if they were any better..it was the same foundry and iron used. Some people prefer the shorter walls and resulting lighter weight to the pan. EG National - Wagner, Victor - Griswold

[@stephenferriols680]

Thank you. I learned a lot. I have a small cast iron pan from my grandfather.

[@rowdeo8968]

beautifully restored!!!!

[@robertward553]

I use my gas grill to get all the build up off old pans, work great. I tried the oven cleaner and it worked ok but it was messy. For rust, I used a flap disk on my grinder, but I'll try the battery charger method. Great video.

[@cynforrest]

Thank you. Very interesting. I have a Lodge Pan - came preseasoned- that never seems clean to me. The paper towel always looks a bit “black” after wiping. Should I strip it and start over? I bought it last year from Amazon. Thanks

[@TheMudbrooker]

A little blackness on your paper towel is normal, especially after you wash a pan with soap and water. Scrubbing and hot oil tend to lift excess carbon and black iron oxide from the surface of the pan but don't worry about it, you just wiped it off and the little that's left isn't going to turn your food black. In fact, black iron oxide is a beneficial source of dietary iron.

[@cynforrest]

TheMudbrooker Thank you so much. I do love the fact that nothing sticks in my pan!!

[@HopeForTheBestUG]

I have an antique Dutch oven that has been painted. How do I remove the paint without damaging it?

[@hiredgun7996]

“ You don’t really want to create your own home version of the Hindenburg disaster.” Lol

[@nevick2]

And then the unexpected pan to a huge dog. Really got me haha.

[@dennyhart6757]

Great info. Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge.

[@duett445]

I use a rotary wire brush in my die grinder, crud and rust is removed in one go in no time. I do it out doors no chemicals no toxin no plastic

[@ssimba2785]

duett 445 You are right but don't forget that some of these people have all the time in the world. Cleaning with grinder will be too quick for them,

[@stephengile530]

the little bit of rust that you used the butter on is usually called 'Flash Rust'. What happens to clean iron and steel that is exposed to any moisture even humidity. I've seen it form within less than five minutes. Good video.

[@choctawhatcheekid309]

I found the best way to remove rust and grim is to take it to a sand blasting company that uses baking soda for cast iron. It will cost about $10 per pan. Do it when humidity is low in your area and reseason as soon as possible to prevent rust. When you get pans back from blasting they will be grey metal color and look brand new like they just came out of sand mold from the factory.

[@brucea550]

Bead blasting and walnut hulls work well also. I have my own cabinet, but $10 is a great price!

[@milekh6681]

Over thinking it

[@dper1112]

This is a wonderful video. I've had cast iron frying pans for years, always wondered exactly how to clean them up well, and here's the definitive guide. Thank you, sir!

[@TheMudbrooker]

You're most welcome.

[@familyluv1762]

Might want to use some CLR cleaner in your sink. Maybe that will help with your sink. Thanks for all the tips. Great video helpful information. If people gave cast a chance they would luv them. Healthier then all these new nonstick garbage out there people are using. Last forever

[@TheMudbrooker]

I have some pans over a century old that I use all the time, I figure they have another two or three hundred years worth of life left in them. :)

[@woodycox5496]

Hello, great videos, can't find the video where you use vinegar to etch a cast iron skillet that has been polished too much. Can anyone provide me the link? thanks

[@TheMudbrooker]

I did a video using vinegar to remove rust, but i haven't done an etching video yet. As luck would have it, I just got a piece that needs etching so maybe I'll do that next.

[@woodycox5496]

@@TheMudbrooker thank you

[@rb3166]

Wagner pans were made 1891-1952. You've got some collectables there!

[@salmonbirdz]

I have one that shows ERIE 6A at the bottom. Another one has no label but both have rims at the bottom. I assume they are old. Last one shows Chef Skillet Made in USA. Are the first 2 very old?

[@rb3166]

@@salmonbirdz ERIE goes back to 1880-1907! You can google for more info I'm sure.

[@elym1300]

Home version of the Hindenburg is the best part. Nicely done, well explained, and clear. Yay!

[@markmailloux2083]

I've done hundreds of pots pans, kettles, and cauldrons, I use the bomb fire, lard and sand, mirror finish after seasoning, no chemicals, no power, should make a video

[@xenaswolf]

I'd love to see it!

[@lindahewett147]

Hi Mark, I'd like to try that. What do you do with the lard & sand?

[@FLOKADO]

HELP I’m having a big problem with flash rust after a lye bath o several cast iron pieces. I can’t get to the seasoning part for all the rust. Can you help me please?

[@TheMudbrooker]

A lot the time there's rust under old build up. When I restore pans I strip them in a lye bath then give them 10-12 hours in the electrolysis tank. If you don't want to set up an electrolysis tank, after the lye bath and a good washing soak the pieces in a 50/50 vinegar solution for a few hours. When the rust is gone scrub thoroughly and IMMEDIATELY dry them on the stove. While the pan is still warm coat with oil and wipe it off, that will pick up any flash rust, you might need to coat and wipe a couple of times. After that, you'll be ready to season.

[@TribbleBot]

I use electrolysis on rusty car parts. It'll make a grungy old exhaust manifold look like it just left the foundry.

[@tinawright7069]

Tina from alberta canada I have a pan that was found outside of an old house. It is full pitting I don't know if it's food build up or something else. Is it salvageable?

[@TheMudbrooker]

Yes, it can probably be saved. Build up can be removed by spraying it with oven cleaner an putting it in a plastic bag for a couple of days and rust can be removed by soaking in a 50/50 water and vinegar solution for a few hours and scrubbing it. Once the pan is clean you can tell if it's pitted. Unless it's pitted to the point of eating holes through the iron it can be re-seasoned and used. Pitting on the outside doesn't usually effect anything and pitting on the cooking surface will mostly fill in over time.