Refurbishing a Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Serial Griller · Posted: Jan 07 2009 Post subject: Refurbishing a Cast Iron Dutch Oven

I have a dutch oven that has been in my family for maybe 100 years.
I know my grandmother used it to make chile and I got it from my mom who at one time used it for decoration and had a potted plant sitting in it.
It has some rust at the bottom and I'd like to restore it and use it.
I heard that using a paste of water and course salt would remove the rust. then wash with water and season it.
I guess it's safe to use.I know it wasn;t used to drain motor oil Laughing

Any suggestions for restoring it?
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Shaymus · BBQ Pro Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 869 Location: Boone NC

Once you get the rust out. I would put some crsco in it and leave it in the oven on low for around 4-5 hrs. It will smoke the house up a little though. When you wash use hot water only. I never put any kind of soap in because you will taste it. Then wipe dry and get a paper towel and put a thin coat of oil on it to store. Wipe out before you use it again. When it finally gets well seasoned , it will have a non stick quality. This is what I do with my frying pans. Or if I store it in the oven leave some oil in it like so:

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whitey · Posted: Jan 07 2009 Post subject:

Hey there, When I have the seasoning of my cast damaged, I build an outdoor fire(good and hot) place the cast upside down in the fire for about 15 or 20 minutes, let cool wash with water and a scrubber until all the old seasoning is removed. You can repeat the fire thing again if it is needed. Once cleaned and washed very well. Warm and coat with Crisco and place in the oven at around 250 for about and hour, repeat 1 or 2 more times.. After use dry in the oven and reapply the Crisco.. Seasons the cast stick free everytime good luck and I love that cast iron
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madbrad · Newbie Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 29 Location: Altus, OK

i have taken old cast iron pots and pans that rusted up and bead blast then back down to new cast look. then go and re-season them in wich ever method preferred. i also do this with old plow disc. weld up the center hole, to make a "wok". works great for cooking fajitas, breakfast, fried taters and so on.

fwiw
Brad

BigOrson · Posted: Jan 07 2009 Post subject:

I would definitely heat it and remove the old seasoning and I'd use coarse salt and oil to remove the rust (unless it is pitted and then a wire whell or brush would be more in order. Follow the re-seasoning and care directions above and you should be fine.

NaughtyNurse · Posted: Jan 07 2009 Post subject:

Once you get it seasoned, be careful what you cook in it. Foods with a high acid content are hard on the seasoning. That doesn't mean you can't use them, just means you will reseason sooner. Some good information at this site:
http://www.dutchovencookware.com/lodge-cookware.html
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crashpilot · Posted: Jan 07 2009 Post subject:

Another helper for getting your pot to season is to cook a nice dark roux in it a few times. Smile

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Tek465 · Newbie Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 90

If the rust is really bad you might want to try this method.

Rust Removal using Electrolysis

If it's not too bad I've had good results by using Coke and steel wool.

Hell Fire Grill · Posted: Jan 07 2009 Post subject:

Try this link.

http://www.wag-society.org/cleaning.php

Oven cleaner and the piece in a plastic bag overnight will work too. I always do it with a wire wheel on a grinder.

Damar12 · BBQ Fan Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 176

If you have a self cleaning oven, put it in the oven and cycle it through, then season it. The high high temp will git it right.

Serial Griller · Posted: Jan 07 2009 Post subject: restoration

Hey Thanks guys.You certainly have given me many options and thanks for the links.Very interesting.
I'll have to do some scrounging around to see if I have the stuff to do it.
Thanks again.
I'll take some before and after pics and post them when the weather warms a bit here.
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samson · BBQ Pro Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 869 Location: illinois

I have read at several websites and forums that putting the piece in a hot fire is the last thing you would want to do... the dutch oven could warp or crack.

I'm not saying its the wrong way to do it, people do seem to have good luck with that. But if its been in the family for 100 years I would be afraid to chance it.

Good luck whatever you do and let us know how it turns out.

whitey · Posted: Jan 08 2009 Post subject:

Samson I do imagin if a person was to just chuck it in the fire and get it molten hot I could see where it could warp. So Just 15 or 20 is all I do and never had a problem. But you are correct lets take a less agressive approach that some of the others mentioned Wink

,then If it didnt work build a fire Shocked

Good luck on the cast,Pictures before and after would be super cool..
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samson · BBQ Pro Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Posts: 869 Location: illinois

Everytime I would read that I did wonder about the fire thing and warping and all. People were just kinda vague on how they did that... they mostly mentioned the results. I do have a skillet that is kinda nasty and I may try the fire approach since nothing I have done has worked in cleaning it up.

So if I was to try that, should I try to pre-heat the skillet so there isn't as much "shock" to the pan when it goes into the fire? Just curious as I tried several things short of electroalysis.

Thanks! (sorry if I'm hijacking this thread...)

whitey · Posted: Jan 08 2009 Post subject:

Hey samson I would just build a nice small fire with some small to medium size wood and lay it on the fire (Upside down) when is going good and hot.Bring a good heavy pair of gloves,a metal scrubber,and a small wire brush and remove all the old finish.. But do not take out of the fire and straight to a water hose. Do not apply water to the cast until it has cooled. Just use the scrubber and wire brush.. Good Luck Smile

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ceedubya · Posted: Jan 08 2009 Post subject:

Look here:

http://www.idos.com/

And here:

http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/

http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/dutch-oven-care.htm

That is all

-ME
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whitey · Posted: Jan 08 2009 Post subject:

Thanks for the links,Pretty much how it works on the fire. I live in Washington state so We almost always have a chance to sit around the camp fire. The propane thing sounds great if I dont have time to sit around a fire. Thanks again I book marked them for future reading
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Almost the Biggest Liar on the "Ring"

Capt Chrysler · BBQ Super Fan Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 438

Both my mother (age 82) and mother in law (age 8 Cool

said they would put the cast iron pans in the fire box of the coal/wood cook stove. The heat from the coals would clean the skillet. This was most often done at night so it would cool down by the morning. But this was done every couple of years.

As a kid in town mom, would have me build a charcoal fire and in would go the skillet. But one time I had the great idea to use the torch and the rosebud tip. Not a good idea, as I cracked the 50 year old skillet.

Now I use the gas grill.

Hum, we have a cast iron foundry here in town, wonder what the would charge for some heavy cook ware?

Capt. Chrysler

Serial Griller · Posted: Jan 08 2009 Post subject: refurbish

Update:
I tried the salt/oil rub and that cleaned up the rust on the sides but didn't do much for the bottom which is pitted.Then tried a wire wheel , But still didn't clean it up.Since I have no access to a battery charger and I'm not going to buy one for this purpose I think I'll find a place to get it bead blasted. The inside is the only part that is rusted.The outside is fine.
I could check to see if anyone rents battery chargers but haven't ever heard of that.
Thanks to all for your very informative links and advice. I would like to do the battery charger method but it's not worth the cost of a charger when I can buy a new Lodge dutch oven for a lot less.
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Stan41 · Posted: Jan 09 2009 Post subject:

I have put cast iron pieces in a fire many times and it has worked well for me. I place the cast iron piece on the wood before I light the fire to start with, leave it alone. Build enough fire so that the piece gets red, glowing hot. Let the fire burn down overnight or until it is dead out and cool. Then and not before then remove the cast iron piece, wash it, and season it.
The secret to not having any damage is gradual heating and gradual cooling. Both.
Stan41