TheMudbrooker's Guide to Cast Iron: Using a Lye Bath.

How to set up and use a lye bath to restore cast iron.

[@wendymontgomery6204]

EXCELLENT!!! I have WAPAK skillets made between 1903 & 1910. This is a huge help to me. Thank you.

[@drayhines3339]

In addition to being very informative, the voice and the magnificent beard made me want to subscribe. Thank you. You the man. 👍🏽

[@TheCynedd]

Good video; one thing I was careful of when I was cleaning a Dutch Oven in a lye bath was to remove the bail because I think it was made of aluminum (and, as you said, aluminum and lye are not friends). 🍳👍

[@TheMudbrooker]

Best not to take any chances, if you aren't sure if it's aluminum keep it away from lye.

[@nikkibaggett9967]

@@TheMudbrooker how do I know the difference between the two?

[@TheMudbrooker]

@@nikkibaggett9967 Aluminum is lighter and a magnet won't stick to it.

[@kayleenkennedy6018]

Thank you, Sir. Very thorough & informative.

[@michaeltreadwell777]

I've just stumbled across your videos - WOW, they are brilliant. I have a 45 year old skillet and used a lye bath to clean it - came out like new. I found the oven cleaner didn't work on it, but the bath was excellent. I loved your videos on clarifying butter and seasoning Cast Iron pans too. WELL DONE and thanks :-)

[@SomervilleBob]

You could do voice-over work.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Thank you.

[@pavlovsky0]

He can leave the light on for you. Lol

[@catherinebecker8560]

Oh yeah

[@dianaharn22]

What brand of lye to purchase

[@TheMudbrooker]

Any brand that's 100% lye.

[@wz5522]

Hi Mud, really appreciate your videos.....because there is always something to learn from you. Thank you......I'm sure you are busy but, when is the next cooking video..? lol I mean that as a compliment, everything I have tried of yours has come out great. (favorite being the cheese) Glad your doing well,...stay safe.... You take care.....

[@TheMudbrooker]

Not sure when I'll be doing much cooking again, I'd love to do a pickled fish video but that assumes I'll get a chance to go fishing any time soon.

[@starlightengramA]

As an aspiring iron smelter I realized early on that I would need to be proficient in the recycling of iron parts and their alloys commonly produced as market goods. Cleaning them properly is doubtless a must-have. I would like to see your electrostrip process, if it would not be too much trouble for you.

[@TheMudbrooker]

I cover it in this video at about 18:50 : kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHu3i2emlLmkodU and there's a link to another video on electrolysis in the description. I'm planning another video sometime this summer on using a battery as a load in the circuit so you can use an automatic battery charger for electrolysis.

[@Asp4yxiat10n]

Just gonna put it out there mate, but your beard looks magnificent

[@TheLivingDinosaur]

Alkaline hydrolysis is a wonderful thing...

[@TheMudbrooker]

Better living through chemistry.

[@williamcarboni2614]

Great video. Missed you, hope you staying safe. Thanks

[@TheMudbrooker]

Been working long hours with a long drive.

[@marksieber4626]

Mud you’re the old dude in the neighborhood that knows how to do stuff. I always circle back to your channel.

[@texfarm6798]

Love the scoop idea

[@Rockhunter329]

I would also add .... use a stout container for your solution. When the lye solution is spent or you're done using it, you'll have to move that tote to the drain. It might hold those 5 gallons just fine sitting on the floor, just make sure the container you use is stout enough to pick up with 40 lbs / 5 gal of lye solution in it!

[@ednamyers5760]

5/1/23 Love and enjoy all of your videos... thanks for sharing

[@toolsteel8482]

I want to try this on some crusty caked cast iron. My dad said his mother would add lye to water on the coal stove and she would skim off the scum before washing clothes. Thanks for sharing.

[@katieskorner8733]

Thanks Mudbrooker! I'm going to do this!

[@TheVcasf]

I hope the "oppressed... metric system..." comment was a joke. As a person who values logic and science, I would hope that you value improvement no matter where it comes from. The metric system is way more advanced than the imperial system. that's why your NASA and most important engineering and physics departments use the metric system. even in the USA

[@sparkyheberling6115]

Whatever happened to the goal of the US going metric by 2000? When my daughter was in elementary school they practiced a few arithmetic problems in metric units, but that half-hearted effort was it. Metric was obviously considered the foreign system.

[@Rockhunter329]

Not necessarily. I worked in R&D most of my career. At my last job I worked A LOT with the engineering group and production. All my lab experiments were done in metric. All our production plants were run on US units, lbs, gallons etc. They'd take any lab results and convert them the units to work in the production process.

[@sabrinapierce9591]

it’s a joke dude don’t take it so hard

[@cecilyerker]

When you flush lye, is it good for your pipes or will it cause problems? Is it better to neutralize it with vinegar first?

[@TheMudbrooker]

The lye will remove grease build-up from your pipes. After you've flushed it though, follow it with plenty of water to carry away any bits of carbon from the pans. You could neutralize it first, but you don't have to.

[@kriscook2423]

I always buy drain cleaner with 100% lye and treat every drain in my house every couple of months. It keeps them free from getting clogs. Just make sure you follow all safety guidelines and flush your drains well afterwards.

[@robertrichard9460]

Great video! I have a CI pan that has some carbon on the bottom. Would you recommend heavy duty oven cleaner for that? Thanks

[@TheMudbrooker]

Yes, if you only have a couple of pans the need cleaning, oven cleaner is the way to go.

[@sparkyheberling6115]

Am I correct in thinking the lye removes the crust (breaking down polymerized grease) but not any rust? So you followed up with the electrolysis bath for the rust?

[@TheMudbrooker]

Yes you are.

[@cecilyerker]

Do you have a water filter in your kitchen for your iron drinking water?

[@TheMudbrooker]

Yes, but it only does so much. This is unfiltered water from the hose. I would need a full scale iron removal system to get it all out.

[@tracybruring8440]

i don't have an electrolysis tank; can I just soak in lye water, clean and season?

[@TheMudbrooker]

Sometimes, if the pan isn't rusty too. If it is rusty you can remove the rust with a 50/50 vinegar solution. This is one of my videos where I demonstrate how kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaOmdpd-r71oppo

[@tracybruring8440]

@@TheMudbrooker Thank you. I have pans that are not rusty at all just have that build up gunk on the outside. I have lots of lye for soap making so this is helpful

[@liondog7]

Hey Mud, How do you dispose of the lye bath when you're all done with it?

[@TheMudbrooker]

It's safe to pour, carefully, down the drain.

[@pattilee2815]

The whole world uses metric, except the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar. #whoseoppressed

[@bwright925]

If that's the case then the whole word does not use the metric system..

[@jgbullen]

I find it interesting that this is your first video in over a month. Do people in your part of the world hibernate on an unusual cycle?

[@TheMudbrooker]

I've been working long hours far from home, one of the drawbacks of being essential.

[@stevenoneill2037]

I used warm water is that ok to start off with?

[@firecrow7973]

This is also a good way to clean your bongs and small glass pipes

[@dirkdiggler8330]

I asked this before. U sell mud???

[@shelleymitchell7912]

qow mesmeric you have a beautiful voice sir x

[@RoscoeScott-vz1oc]

Does it stank

[@angelamcilwaine4535]

I only have two cast iron fry pans to do and you mentioned another way other than a lye bath. What is another way? Thanks

[@TheMudbrooker]

For just one or two pans I recommend heavy duty oven cleaner, the kind with the yellow cap. Just spray a heavy coat on the pans, put them in a plastic bag and let them sit two or three days. Scrub them off and if there's still build up on them repeat the process.

[@MrBill0523]

GREAT lesson! Thank you

[@TheMudbrooker]

You're welcome.

[@starlightengramA]

I notice you mentioned too much heat in the reaction of the alkali and the water. This whole solution is being formed in what appears to be a polypropylene plastic container which has properties of excellent UV and (non petroleum) chemical resistance but a low temperature resistance of only a 225F temperature limit.

[@TheMudbrooker]

If you scatter the lye around the surface of the water it'll only raise the temperature a degree or two. The risk is in pouring the lye in one pile, it'll sink to the bottom, and localizing the heat in a small area.

[@ncbear4100]

Thank you for the video. It is awesome that you share your knowledge with the world.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Thank you.

[@jean2448]

Can this be done indoors? It's too cold to do this outside in January.

[@TheMudbrooker]

Yes you can. Be careful not to drip any on the floor and find someplace out of the way. A tile floor or something else easy to wipe off is best. is best.

[@rachel7935]

After lye bath, do you have video on how you season cast iron after?

[@TheMudbrooker]

Yes I do. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3u2c5WIq56jiJY

[@Trid2bnrml1]

Now I know what to do with my old lye that has turned a bit yellow. Rather than trying to use it in soap, I'll just use it for this. Thanks.

[@TheMudbrooker]

A good use for old lye.