Great video Stephen ! Quick PSA from your friendly neighborhood chemist, using an acid to neutralize a base works in theory. However, using vinegar to neutralize Lye spilled on your skin can cause an exothermic reactions to occur on the skin (burning the skin). Diluted it should be fine but just a work of caution for everyone. Running it under cold water would also work.
Excellent as always Stephen. If everyone followed your methodology for restoring their cast iron it would go far in protecting these pieces for future generations. 👍🏻🇨🇦
I have all my finds cleaned up. Only problem is cant go searching right now. Guess back to woodworking for now. God bless everyone out there. Prayers for all
Steven, thanks for the awesome tutorial on cleaning cast iron cookware. We are in the process of cleaning a very old Dutch oven pot from my mother-in-law who used it for many, many years. I appreciate the thoughtful verse at the end of the talk too. God bless.
I was going to subscribe anyway, but if I was hesitant at all, reading the verse at the end sealed it. Thank you for your courage and conviction. Also, the content was incredibly helpful. Thanks again and look forward to all of you videos
Stephen, thank you for taking the time to share the scriptures and your knowledge about cast iron cookware. I really enjoy both. I do have a couple of questions please. How long does a batch of lye last, how to tell when it’s no longer active and how do you dispose of a full five gallon bucket .
Pretty much indefinitely. I'm planning on pouring it into my larger Lye Tank but If I ever dispose of it, I will find a place where I need to kill some weeds. I will go back later with a garden hose and prince it down to dilute the surface down. If you are in a place where it can't be dumped, you can pour it down the drain. It is drain cleaner. I would use the toilet and not the sink.
I love me a old BSR ! IMHO they are the best pans, although not the most valuable or collectable, the design, heaviness and quality is unparalleled. Great video bringing those beauties back to usable condition !
Thank you. Just scored an unmarked Wag for 12 bucks with an inch of crud. Just started collecting 2 months ago and I hooked! Have approx 14 pieces already and mostly 3 notch lodges. 🤙
Great and timely video, Stephen. I have accumulated a few pieces over the winter and need to get them into some lye as the rust is near none, but the rest of the grime needs removing. Glad to have some fresh perspective on a simple lye solution for my minimal needs. Thanks again, and keep up the great work you do. Best regards
@@castIroncookware I hope so, I've never used lye to do cast iron with and it's my mom's so I have to tell you that I'm a bit nervous, but after watching your videos I feel confident.
@@castIroncookware Can you open the bath and check them?? this peice I got was not really that bad, the inside pot mostly folks didn't know how to care for it,
Thank Steve for your reply 6 - 10 -21 . I brought a old Martin chicken fryer,that have all the information on the bottom of skillet.I have learn a lot about cast iron cook wear from your UA-cam video. I plan on going to Bear Trap Antique soon. When I look at this skillet , i knew what type of skillet it was. This is a very heavy skillet. w
I'm enjoying you videos brother. I'm also proud of you sharing the Word of God on you videos. Have a blessed day. I've been using cast Iron for years and I appreciate you demonstrating different ways to remove the rust and gunk. Great Job.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, very useful! One quick question, what did you do with the lye bath water after completing the cleansing process? Thanks again!
Just watched this even though it is a few years old. Thanks for the great explanation of this process and for sharing the Word. Quick question: How long will this lye bath work? How many times can it be used?
Do have to have the lid on or can put it in a room where it can be stored in another place hardly used. It is winter in PA so with freezing temperatures will it freeze?
So you can rinse the pans just with the garden hose....down a drain or ...in your lawn? I don't have a drain nearby. OR can it all just be rinsed in a sink seeing as how it's for pipes anyway? What about the bucket of lye with the gunge in it? Just down the sink too if it's not needed again? I'm first going to try baking soda and water (plaster it on) to see if that works for the gunge. If not I'll do the lye trick!
Great vid and I LOVE cast iron and all your helpful info. I'm going to try this but what do I do with the lye-water when I'm finished stripping my pans? Thank you for your reply!
What is your ratio for the vinegar and water neutralizer? What is your ratio for the solution to stop the flash rust? And lastly, what do you do with the lie bath when you’re done? Does it have to be neutralized? Can you just pour it out on the ground? I do have a pet so I’m concerned about pouring it out on the ground. Thank you so much.
How do you dispose of the lye/water mixture. I can not put it down the drain as I have a septic system. I was thinking about putting vinegar in the 5 gal bucket but dont know if there is enough room to neutralize. Help.
Is there any way to just use lye water and scrubbing? I need to strip the seasoning off of one pan and it's not likely I'll have to do it again in my lifetime since finding cast iron to restore is competitive
How long did you rinse the pans for ? Did you use soap and warm water then wash with soap and vinegar then just a vinegar bath rinse again then dry off ?
u mentioned someone left pans in the lye bucket for a year. so i take it to mean the lye is good for taht long? or how long would you say i can use the same lue water for? how many pieces. does it ever become too dirty that i have to make a fresh bucket?
I usually keep the same solution indefinitely. the gunk will settle at the bottom. If it seems to get weak, I will add a little more lye to it but not very often. The stronger the solution, the more you are likely to get burned. I let et go as long as it is working. Of course the activity will slow down and even stop at lower temperatures. Activity will increase as the temperature rises.
Hi sorry i am not sure if this was mentioned in the video and if so i apologize for the redundant question. Is there any advantage of a lye bath compared to an acid bath? Here in germany i usually use vinegar concentrate which is basically 25% acid. Takes some time but heating it speeds up the process. Thank you for your answers
It is basically drain cleaner so I just pour it down my drain or find a place where I need to kill some weeds. I will usually soak it down with a garden hose afterwards if I use it for weeds.
Thanks for the great info! I do have a couple questions for anyone who cares to answer.... Do you or can you save the lye water in the closed bucket for later use? When you do dispose of it, how or where?
A lady at work gave me a #8 Wagner and it looks like it was painted black. I put it through a self cleaning oven cycle hoping it would peel the paint, but it didn’t touch it. I think it was painted with stove paint. What can I used to get it off? It needs to be something that will allow me to safely cook afterwards. I really don’t want to use a wire brush.
I would give a Lye Bath a try. It may take a while but the best part about that method is that you just let it set. If that doesn't work, An electrolysis tank may be an option.
Can you store the bucket of lye for future use? Or does it lose its power of stripping? I found 3 skillets outside and they are RUSS TEE. I can't wait to try this. I've used electrolysis before too and that worked. But I think lye would be so much simpler
Is there a minimum temperature required for a lye bath to work effectively? I plan to do mine outside but in my part of the country, the temperatures are still fairly cool most days, and the nights are still sometimes near or below freezing. Thanks in advance.
Thanks Stephen. I’ll keep this in mind as I proceed. It may be better to wait a bit in some respects, but I’m eager for some progress and success on some of my projects. Lol!
Not really. the only things that polishing a piece does is use labor and take away the collectible value by destroying the historical integrity of the cast iron. A little bit of a rough surface makes it possible for the first layers of seasoning to stick. The seasoning is what makes the cast iron nonstick, not the smoothness. Rough pieces will fill in as time goes. Pieces that came smooth from the factory are sometimes really hard to get a start with seasoning.
@@282828tyler I know and it's heartbreaking isn't it? Of course everyone has the right to treat their cast-iron the way they want to because it belongs to them but it is really sad when they are teaching other people to do it.
Yes. The iron will not absorb it. It dissolves the grease and old seasoning. Neutralized with household acid like vinegar. I have done this several times and use this formula.
Little help: put a string on your skillet handles, put a piece of paper with its name on the other (outside) side and you know which pieces are in your bucket and you can pull them out on their strings without fishing ... :-)
@@mudskipper3234 I did use the cheapest one lying around here without any problem - I would just try whatever you have. I only had my pieces in for two days.
Forget the string. Just re-fashion a metal clothes hanger with a hook to suspend the skillets from, as shown. Make sure you keep a portion of the hanger free from the solution, and easily maneuverable with the pan attached. Beats close quarters contact with your pans immersed in something that can seriously burn your skin, and cause permanent eye damage!😕
Another container that holds five gallons and is deep enough to cover a #9 skillet is a kitchen trash can. It's deep, wide, and not too thick, where you only need to mix five gallons and it will hold several skillets. I just bought a two pound container of lye at Lowes for $17.
@@castIroncookware I'm finding it complements my e-tank but doesn't replace it. Lye works better when it's warm so here's what I'm trying. I bought an aquarium heater at Walmart, put it in a gallon storage bag with fresh water, and taped it to the side of my lye tank with the zip lock roughly 3" above the surface if the lye. The heat transfers from the water to the lye very well. I don't have the heater at max power and it keeps the lye in the mid 80s. This cast iron collecting is addictive, it takes all my cigarette, drug, and alcohol money ! :)
I have a beautiful unmarked Wagner number 8- while it was on the stove it made a loud pop sound (I'm guessing it was a casting flaw) Resulted in a deep pit that goes through to the outside bottom. Does anyone know if this can be repaired?
There are a few welders out there that can weld cast iron but many more that try that are not able. The results may not be pretty but the cast iron can still be used.
Ryan Martin in case you still need the info, you can just pour it down the drain. The most common form lye is sold in is drain cleaner, so it is perfectly fine to just dump it in your sinks and such.
I hardly ever dispose of my Lye tank water but if I did, it is pretty much the same thing as drain cleaner. You can pour it down the drain. I would probably avoid doing that if you have a septic tank because it may work against the natural live enzymes that are already there. I have also pulled it in the area where I have a lot of bad weeds. I always soak down the area afterwards with a garden hose.
@@castIroncookware i just got some and didn't realize its drain cleaner lol thanks stephen I've used your methods for my cast iron and its all come out great thank you very much ...
so sometimes you season at 300 to avoid flash rust ? then at 500 degrees fo final season ?also do you season multiple times at 500 and whats the most times you season?
@@282828tyler are usually fly a little bit of oil while the piece is still wet. The oil displaces the water and that avoids The Flash rust issue. I always season at 500 degrees for one hour. I usually go about three rounds.
I'm planning on pouring it into my larger Lye Tank but If I ever dispose of it, I will find a place where I need to kill some weeds. I will go back later with a garden hose and prince it down to dilute the surface down. If you are in a place where it can't be dumped, you can pour it down the drain. It is drain cleaner. I would use the toilet and not the sink.
I've seen several other channels suggesting using the self-clean setting of a self-cleaning oven. Have you considered that method? And if so, why have you rejected it? Also, I have an enameled skillet. I thought it was only enameled on the outside and was seasoned on the inside. I have since discovered that isn't the case. The inside is enameled the color of seasoned cast Iron. My PROBLEM is that there are 3 or 4 spots, ranging from the size of a Quarter to the size of a silver dollar that have flaked off. Is there any way to remove the interior enameling so I can season and use the pan? As you can imagine it is pretty much useless as is.
@@castironkev really? What is the top safe temp? Most of the stoves I've seen lately are programmable. And they all tell what temp they reach in the self cleaning mode. I'm hoping to move soon and when I do I will be getting a new stove. If I know what temp is safe, I can choose a stove accordingly.
@@juliebaker6969 probably easier and safer to use a different method- try the easy off oven cleaner bag method maybe. Sustained temps 750 and higher can cause mill scale- and if your own has carbon buildup it could potentially catch fire!
It looks like everyone has given great answers to the self cleaning oven cycle question. I do dot know of a safe way to remove enamel from a flaking piece. I do not think it is safe to use after flaking begins.
First question: when do you use the easy beezy? is it after the reseasoning in the oven with the grape seed oil? 2nd question: if you use the large gray sterilite tub can you put more than 1 cast iron in there? If so how many? I saw where you put a few in your 5 gal. bucket. I will have to use a foot tub so will the lye eat through the plastic? I will be placing it on my patio outside and I was just wondering. I have had my mother's cast iron with easy off now for 2 weeks and it is still not clean. The number 5 you had that was so bad, I laughed when I saw that one, My mothers was about twice as bad as that. So anyway thank you for your time I so appreciate you and I love the word you share at the end. I always make sure I hear that before I go. thanks again. God bless...
I use the Easy Beezy for every layer of my seasoning Google. I also use it as a storage coat. Any plastic container will work but as it is always a good idea to have one that you can place a lid on it to keep Critters out. I usually stack as many pieces as I can together. If they're touching, it will not make a difference. Just remember temperature and time or the main two factors. The lower the temperature, the more time it will take. Of course if one is especially cruddy it will take longer. Thank you so much for watching.
Hey Steve, I have a question. I have the stuff to make a lye bath for all my cast iron. Now when I have it in there can I take out just a few peices at a time to reseason or do I have to take it all out at the same time? I am excited about getting started on this to have what will look like a new collection. I can't thank you enough for all the info you share. Psalm 62:5-7... I love His word too. Be blessed...
Appreciate the video and work that goes into it. Most white vinegar is, at best 10% vinegar (Acetic Acid) while the rest is water ... and in a spray with more water there is not enough acid to "neutralize" sodium hydroxide. For this reason, if you get lye on your skin it is ill-advised to use a vinegar solution as the water and lye result in an exothermic reaction. If you get lye on your skin please stop what you're doing, disrobe, and shower immediately.
I hope you don't mind a little info for those watching in Australia. Lye is caustic soda Not drain cleaner. Drain cleaner here is rarely 100%. I get mine from Bunningsvand it will have suitable for soap making on the label.
@@rallymum5246 thank you for your advice, I will check the label carefully. The ones I found on the internet are "100% NaOH" and have soapmaking as a use listed but I'll go to my local shop tomorrow to check if they got it in stock. Once again, thank you for your advice, you saved me hours of worrying :) Hopefully I'll be able to restore my grandma's skillets and pots. Have a nice day!
Water can neutralize sodium hydroxide in a can. High percentages of sodium hydroxide mixed in water may have to be neutralized with vinegar as you said. I have cleaned over 300 BBQs made of stainless steel and aluminum. God Bless!
Citric acid that you can get at the store works better as vinegar is only 5% acetic acid by volume. You'll end up with a fair volume of neutralized solution to dump using vinegar.
Good stuff here. Question: How do you dispose of the used solution? That's a LOT of lye to deal with. BTW, the vinegar creates an exothermic reaction with the lye as it neutralizes it--it get's HOT. You're doubling your chance of a burn. Water is your best friend.
It is basically drain cleaner so I just pour it down the drain. Also the solution is much more diluted than that of soap making and the 5% acidity vinegar solution is also diluted by half so there is no reaction.
Sir if I may.... NEVER use vinegar on a lye burn!!! Vinegar creates a chemical reaction that creates MORE HEAT! Flush with water. You can use vinegar on surfaces to help during clean up. Love your videos.
The lye solution is 1 pound for 5 gallons for setting up a lye tank. The concentration is much less than what you would use for making soap. My vinegar solution is 50% water and 50% vinegar, with the vinegar being only 5% acidity. For use in cleaning cast iron and neutralizing that particular solution, I have never had an issue. On the other hand if I were making soap, the concentration would be much higher and there would be a reactive problem. I just recently found out about the concentration involved in making soap and I suppose I need to explain the difference when mentioning the use of vinegar to neutralize lye.
The E-Tank is my favorite method but I will use a Lye Tank for pieces that are waiting there turn for the E-Tank. It cuts down on the overall time and some people have only a piece or two to do so it is a good alternative for people that are unable or do not want to build an E-Tank.
muffin pams and corn bread pans are not worth the time in my in my opinion why? really worth the the time to cook in stuff that is not worth it?? do you gain anything rediculous waste you can do same results in modern stuff why spend time on the stuff skilllets are only worth the time
Great video Stephen ! Quick PSA from your friendly neighborhood chemist, using an acid to neutralize a base works in theory. However, using vinegar to neutralize Lye spilled on your skin can cause an exothermic reactions to occur on the skin (burning the skin). Diluted it should be fine but just a work of caution for everyone. Running it under cold water would also work.
I was not expecting you to read scripture, but it was an awesome surprise! God bless you, I pray your endeavors are ask successful!
Excellent as always Stephen. If everyone followed your methodology for restoring their cast iron it would go far in protecting these pieces for future generations. 👍🏻🇨🇦
Thank you. I'm really hoping that it catches on. There is so many on UA-cam nowadays that are really destructive. I would like to see that change.
Future generations won't cook, will only eat powdered food, hahaha.
I have all my finds cleaned up. Only problem is cant go searching right now. Guess back to woodworking for now.
God bless everyone out there. Prayers for all
I'm ready to start hunting again too.
Ebay and online isn't the same.
@@gregoryturner2468 that is so true. Full price plus shipping, usually.
Was typing before I heard the scripture at the end. I knew you were spirit filled, such a calming voice.
Steven, thanks for the awesome tutorial on cleaning cast iron cookware. We are in the process of cleaning a very old Dutch oven pot from my mother-in-law who used it for many, many years. I appreciate the thoughtful verse at the end of the talk too. God bless.
You are absolutely welcome.
Thanks for the video. I made my bath yesterday. Had to watch to make sure I made it correct and I did. Cheers
Good video! And thanks for the verses at the end. I really do enjoy those that share their faith. 🙏🏻
Thank you for sharing the word. It was a blessing.
I was going to subscribe anyway, but if I was hesitant at all, reading the verse at the end sealed it. Thank you for your courage and conviction. Also, the content was incredibly helpful. Thanks again and look forward to all of you videos
Excellent. I haven’t seen the straight lye/ water bath. Great result, and instruction.
Very informative video thanks for sharing always enjoy watching thanks again, and as always really enjoy hearing the scripture
Great video . great info
It’s amazing the passion you put into it. Keep going and educating. Thank you for that.
I still get really excited when I run across a special piece that have been looking for. It is a great hobby. Thank you for watching.
Stephen, thank you for taking the time to share the scriptures and your knowledge about cast iron cookware. I really enjoy both. I do have a couple of questions please. How long does a batch of lye last, how to tell when it’s no longer active and how do you dispose of a full five gallon bucket .
Pretty much indefinitely. I'm planning on pouring it into my larger Lye Tank but If I ever dispose of it, I will find a place where I need to kill some weeds. I will go back later with a garden hose and prince it down to dilute the surface down. If you are in a place where it can't be dumped, you can pour it down the drain. It is drain cleaner. I would use the toilet and not the sink.
Thanks for the info.
Thank you so much for the lye demonstration. The video was very helpful!
You are so very welcome.
I love me a old BSR !
IMHO they are the best pans, although not the most valuable or collectable, the design, heaviness and quality is unparalleled.
Great video bringing those beauties back to usable condition !
Thanks Steven for your videos,and especially for not being afraid to share your love for our LORD,keep 'em coming brother,and GOD BLESS!!
You are absolutely welcome and thank you so very much for watching.
Thank you. Just scored an unmarked Wag for 12 bucks with an inch of crud. Just started collecting 2 months ago and I hooked! Have approx 14 pieces already and mostly 3 notch lodges. 🤙
It is a great hobby.
Great and timely video, Stephen. I have accumulated a few pieces over the winter and need to get them into some lye as the rust is near none, but the rest of the grime needs removing. Glad to have some fresh perspective on a simple lye solution for my minimal needs.
Thanks again, and keep up the great work you do.
Best regards
You're welcome and thank you for watching.
Great video thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful day.
Very good, and thank you for the good word at the end.
I ordered some lye it will be my first time doing this. Wish me luck!
You will do great.
@@castIroncookware I hope so, I've never used lye to do cast iron with and it's my mom's so I have to tell you that I'm a bit nervous, but after watching your videos I feel confident.
Just Put a Lodge Chicken Fryer # 8 and lid in my first lye bath after watching your video, can't wait to see the outcome. Thanks for the Video.
I have a few pieces in a lye bath right now. I need to check them and see how they're coming too.
@@castIroncookware Can you open the bath and check them?? this peice I got was not really that bad, the inside pot mostly folks didn't know how to care for it,
@@cowboyup545 Yes, just be careful to not get splashed. I check mine ever so often and put them back if they need more time.
@@castIroncookware Thank You, Sir
Thank Steve for your reply 6 - 10 -21 .
I brought a old Martin chicken fryer,that
have all the information on the bottom
of skillet.I have learn a lot about cast iron cook wear from your UA-cam video.
I plan on going to Bear Trap Antique soon. When I look at this skillet , i knew
what type of skillet it was. This is a very
heavy skillet.
w
The Martins are a lot like the BSR. Some of them are quite heavy.
I'm enjoying you videos brother. I'm also proud of you sharing the Word of God on you videos. Have a blessed day. I've been using cast Iron for years and I appreciate you demonstrating different ways to remove the rust and gunk. Great Job.
Great content, all of it…thanks!
Thanks for all your hard work! So the self cleaning oven way is not good?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, very useful! One quick question, what did you do with the lye bath water after completing the cleansing process? Thanks again!
Lye water is pretty much the same thing as drain cleaner. I just pour it down the drain.
20:51 is there a special way in disposing the used lye water?
what is the best way of disposing the lye water when it’s done?
I love your accent!
good video Stephen, makes me want to clean some CI all mine are clean so guess I will have to go out and buy some dirty grungy ones!
I'm ready for hunting again. We just have to wait till it is safe.
What do you do with the lye bath when done using it?
Just watched this even though it is a few years old. Thanks for the great explanation of this process and for sharing the Word. Quick question: How long will this lye bath work? How many times can it be used?
Just bought that stuff today. Hopefully it works.
Do have to have the lid on or can put it in a room where it can be stored in another place hardly used. It is winter in PA so with freezing temperatures will it freeze?
So you can rinse the pans just with the garden hose....down a drain or ...in your lawn? I don't have a drain nearby. OR can it all just be rinsed in a sink seeing as how it's for pipes anyway? What about the bucket of lye with the gunge in it? Just down the sink too if it's not needed again? I'm first going to try baking soda and water (plaster it on) to see if that works for the gunge. If not I'll do the lye trick!
NATIONAL 7 is my favorite pan! You should show wall height vs other Wagner on one of your videos. you could add in Victor also
Great vid and I LOVE cast iron and all your helpful info. I'm going to try this but what do I do with the lye-water when I'm finished stripping my pans? Thank you for your reply!
It is pretty much drain cleaner. You can actually pour it down the drain without any issues.
@@castIroncookware thank you!
Great video! Thank you for teaching us. Question: Do you have a video on how to season the pans after the lye bath?
Yes, I believe it will be and the restoration playlist. I think I have a couple on that subject.
How do you safely dispose of your lye water when you are done using the tanks?
It is basically the same as drain cleaner. Most people just pour it down the drain.
Really,interesting,can,we,use,wood,ash,as,lye,?
I have heard of a few people doing just that. I haven't tried it myself though.
@@castIroncookware Thanks for the answer. Based on what you've heard o you think it would be as efficient as the powdered one ?
@@jonathangagnon3155 I would think so.
What is your ratio for the vinegar and water neutralizer?
What is your ratio for the solution to stop the flash rust?
And lastly, what do you do with the lie bath when you’re done? Does it have to be neutralized? Can you just pour it out on the ground? I do have a pet so I’m concerned about pouring it out on the ground. Thank you so much.
How do you dispose of the lye/water mixture. I can not put it down the drain as I have a septic system. I was thinking about putting vinegar in the 5 gal bucket but dont know if there is enough room to neutralize. Help.
I have poured mine out in a weeded area.
@@castIroncookware Works for me. Thanks. I enjoyed your video.
Thank you
Great video got a question where do you suggest that I dump the used lye solution when I am done.
Can a lye bath be used on a skillet with a wooden handle?
You will want to remove the handle first. Most of the time it is simple and others a little more complicated.
Would the remaining staining you mentioned come off in an e-tank?
It may lighten up some but I don't think it would completely go away.
Is there any way to just use lye water and scrubbing? I need to strip the seasoning off of one pan and it's not likely I'll have to do it again in my lifetime since finding cast iron to restore is competitive
How long did you rinse the pans for ? Did you use soap and warm water then wash with soap and vinegar then just a vinegar bath rinse again then dry off ?
I was wondering how you dispose of the lye solution after you’ve used it? Thank you.
It is basically drain cleaner. Down the drain works.
I would caution against putting lye down the drain if you are on a septic system.
@@jblooz2371 Ohhhhhhh.... is there a safe way of disposing it, or should I just let it evaporate?
when did you neutralize with vinegar and water????
u mentioned someone left pans in the lye bucket for a year. so i take it to mean the lye is good for taht long? or how long would you say i can use the same lue water for? how many pieces. does it ever become too dirty that i have to make a fresh bucket?
I usually keep the same solution indefinitely. the gunk will settle at the bottom. If it seems to get weak, I will add a little more lye to it but not very often. The stronger the solution, the more you are likely to get burned. I let et go as long as it is working. Of course the activity will slow down and even stop at lower temperatures. Activity will increase as the temperature rises.
How do you get rid of the lye water?
Hi sorry i am not sure if this was mentioned in the video and if so i apologize for the redundant question.
Is there any advantage of a lye bath compared to an acid bath? Here in germany i usually use
vinegar concentrate which is basically 25% acid. Takes some time but heating it speeds up the process.
Thank you for your answers
An acid bath will work but if there is already pitting present, the pitting will get larger very quickly.
@@castIroncookware Ok i get it. Thank you for your answer and of course for the videos :)
How do you dispose of the lye water?
It is basically drain cleaner so I just pour it down my drain or find a place where I need to kill some weeds. I will usually soak it down with a garden hose afterwards if I use it for weeds.
Where can I purchase Lye?
I always use very warm if not hot water for my lye tank.
The lye will heat the water.
Curious why sandblasting isn't a preferred method for stripping and restoring?
Thanks for the great info! I do have a couple questions for anyone who cares to answer.... Do you or can you save the lye water in the closed bucket for later use? When you do dispose of it, how or where?
I use mine over and over again. Usually, I do not dispose of it but if and when I do, it goes down the drain. It is basically drain cleaner.
@@castIroncookware Thanks very much!
I have a septic tank. Will the lye harm it?
Will not harm sewer system unless it is the old iron sewer system. Is septic safe but will kill helpful bacteria so need to add ridx few weeks later.
A lady at work gave me a #8 Wagner and it looks like it was painted black. I put it through a self cleaning oven cycle hoping it would peel the paint, but it didn’t touch it. I think it was painted with stove paint. What can I used to get it off? It needs to be something that will allow me to safely cook afterwards. I really don’t want to use a wire brush.
I would give a Lye Bath a try. It may take a while but the best part about that method is that you just let it set. If that doesn't work, An electrolysis tank may be an option.
I’ll try the lye bath first. Thanks for the feedback
Can you store the bucket of lye for future use? Or does it lose its power of stripping? I found 3 skillets outside and they are RUSS TEE. I can't wait to try this. I've used electrolysis before too and that worked. But I think lye would be so much simpler
So far, I have not seen it lose its potency.
Is there a minimum temperature required for a lye bath to work effectively? I plan to do mine outside but in my part of the country, the temperatures are still fairly cool most days, and the nights are still sometimes near or below freezing. Thanks in advance.
It will work in the 40's but really slow. I would say 2 or 3 times as long.
Thanks Stephen. I’ll keep this in mind as I proceed. It may be better to wait a bit in some respects, but I’m eager for some progress and success on some of my projects. Lol!
Is it an improvement to polish cast iron to a super smooth finish and then reseason it?
Not really. the only things that polishing a piece does is use labor and take away the collectible value by destroying the historical integrity of the cast iron. A little bit of a rough surface makes it possible for the first layers of seasoning to stick. The seasoning is what makes the cast iron nonstick, not the smoothness. Rough pieces will fill in as time goes. Pieces that came smooth from the factory are sometimes really hard to get a start with seasoning.
@@castIroncookware i see so many people grinding
@@282828tyler I know and it's heartbreaking isn't it? Of course everyone has the right to treat their cast-iron the way they want to because it belongs to them but it is really sad when they are teaching other people to do it.
Does cast iron always cause blackness when wiped with a paper towel?
There will always be a little bit of residue unless it it well seasoned and well cleaned. Not that much of an issue though.
Is it safe to eat food cooked on the pans after the lye bath?
Yes. The iron will not absorb it. It dissolves the grease and old seasoning. Neutralized with household acid like vinegar. I have done this several times and use this formula.
Little help: put a string on your skillet handles, put a piece of paper with its name on the other (outside) side and you know which pieces are in your bucket and you can pull them out on their strings without fishing ... :-)
I usually think about that after it is too late. lol
Do you know what kind of string could resist lye? This seems like a great idea but I don't know what string could possibly live in lye
@@mudskipper3234 I did use the cheapest one lying around here without any problem - I would just try whatever you have. I only had my pieces in for two days.
Forget the string. Just re-fashion a metal clothes hanger with a hook to suspend the skillets from, as shown. Make sure you keep a portion of the hanger free from the solution, and easily maneuverable with the pan attached. Beats close quarters contact with your pans immersed in something that can seriously burn your skin, and cause permanent eye damage!😕
@@mudskipper3234 what about using a coat hanger?
Amen
Another container that holds five gallons and is deep enough to cover a #9 skillet is a kitchen trash can. It's deep, wide, and not too thick, where you only need to mix five gallons and it will hold several skillets. I just bought a two pound container of lye at Lowes for $17.
Absolutely. Having a different shape helps a lot.
@@castIroncookware I'm finding it complements my e-tank but doesn't replace it. Lye works better when it's warm so here's what I'm trying. I bought an aquarium heater at Walmart, put it in a gallon storage bag with fresh water, and taped it to the side of my lye tank with the zip lock roughly 3" above the surface if the lye. The heat transfers from the water to the lye very well. I don't have the heater at max power and it keeps the lye in the mid 80s. This cast iron collecting is addictive, it takes all my cigarette, drug, and alcohol money ! :)
I have a beautiful unmarked Wagner number 8- while it was on the stove it made a loud pop sound (I'm guessing it was a casting flaw)
Resulted in a deep pit that goes through to the outside bottom.
Does anyone know if this can be repaired?
There are a few welders out there that can weld cast iron but many more that try that are not able. The results may not be pretty but the cast iron can still be used.
@@castIroncookware thank you
@@conniemerikor You are absolutely welcome.
Great videos. You may have sent this comment, however, how do you dispose of the Lye after use.
Did you get an answer on this? I was wondering the same thing.
Ryan Martin in case you still need the info, you can just pour it down the drain. The most common form lye is sold in is drain cleaner, so it is perfectly fine to just dump it in your sinks and such.
hey stephen after the lye bath do you dispose in the garage sink ?
I hardly ever dispose of my Lye tank water but if I did, it is pretty much the same thing as drain cleaner. You can pour it down the drain. I would probably avoid doing that if you have a septic tank because it may work against the natural live enzymes that are already there. I have also pulled it in the area where I have a lot of bad weeds. I always soak down the area afterwards with a garden hose.
@@castIroncookware i just got some and didn't realize its drain cleaner lol thanks stephen I've used your methods for my cast iron and its all come out great thank you very much ...
so sometimes you season at 300 to avoid flash rust ? then at 500 degrees fo final season ?also do you season multiple times at 500 and whats the most times you season?
@@282828tyler you're absolutely welcome and thank you for watching.
@@282828tyler are usually fly a little bit of oil while the piece is still wet. The oil displaces the water and that avoids The Flash rust issue. I always season at 500 degrees for one hour. I usually go about three rounds.
How do I get rid of water?
I'm planning on pouring it into my larger Lye Tank but If I ever dispose of it, I will find a place where I need to kill some weeds. I will go back later with a garden hose and prince it down to dilute the surface down. If you are in a place where it can't be dumped, you can pour it down the drain. It is drain cleaner. I would use the toilet and not the sink.
@@castIroncookware Down the drain sounds good! Thanks, sure enjoy your channel. Mostly hunting ones.
@@phillipriggs3375 I'm ready to go hunting again.
I've seen several other channels suggesting using the self-clean setting of a self-cleaning oven. Have you considered that method? And if so, why have you rejected it?
Also, I have an enameled skillet. I thought it was only enameled on the outside and was seasoned on the inside. I have since discovered that isn't the case. The inside is enameled the color of seasoned cast Iron. My PROBLEM is that there are 3 or 4 spots, ranging from the size of a Quarter to the size of a silver dollar that have flaked off. Is there any way to remove the interior enameling so I can season and use the pan? As you can imagine it is pretty much useless as is.
Julie Baker .oven method is frowned upon by the pros. Gets really hot- sometimes 1000+ degrees. Too hot is bad for both the skillet and oven!
@@castironkev really? What is the top safe temp? Most of the stoves I've seen lately are programmable. And they all tell what temp they reach in the self cleaning mode. I'm hoping to move soon and when I do I will be getting a new stove. If I know what temp is safe, I can choose a stove accordingly.
@@juliebaker6969 probably easier and safer to use a different method- try the easy off oven cleaner bag method maybe. Sustained temps 750 and higher can cause mill scale- and if your own has carbon buildup it could potentially catch fire!
Mr. Strawn has a video on this very topic. ua-cam.com/video/3zj8eGDPIkI/v-deo.html
It looks like everyone has given great answers to the self cleaning oven cycle question. I do dot know of a safe way to remove enamel from a flaking piece. I do not think it is safe to use after flaking begins.
First question: when do you use the easy beezy? is it after the reseasoning in the oven with the grape seed oil? 2nd question: if you use the large gray sterilite tub can you put more than 1 cast iron in there? If so how many? I saw where you put a few in your 5 gal. bucket. I will have to use a foot tub so will the lye eat through the plastic? I will be placing it on my patio outside and I was just wondering. I have had my mother's cast iron with easy off now for 2 weeks and it is still not clean. The number 5 you had that was so bad, I laughed when I saw that one, My mothers was about twice as bad as that. So anyway thank you for your time I so appreciate you and I love the word you share at the end. I always make sure I hear that before I go. thanks again. God bless...
I use the Easy Beezy for every layer of my seasoning Google. I also use it as a storage coat. Any plastic container will work but as it is always a good idea to have one that you can place a lid on it to keep Critters out. I usually stack as many pieces as I can together. If they're touching, it will not make a difference. Just remember temperature and time or the main two factors. The lower the temperature, the more time it will take. Of course if one is especially cruddy it will take longer. Thank you so much for watching.
Hey Steve, I have a question. I have the stuff to make a lye bath for all my cast iron. Now when I have it in there can I take out just a few peices at a time to reseason or do I have to take it all out at the same time? I am excited about getting started on this to have what will look like a new collection. I can't thank you enough for all the info you share. Psalm 62:5-7... I love His word too. Be blessed...
You can take out any piece at any time. Some pieces take longer than others.
@@castIroncookware thank you so much for the quick reply. Be blessed...
Appreciate the video and work that goes into it. Most white vinegar is, at best 10% vinegar (Acetic Acid) while the rest is water ... and in a spray with more water there is not enough acid to "neutralize" sodium hydroxide. For this reason, if you get lye on your skin it is ill-advised to use a vinegar solution as the water and lye result in an exothermic reaction. If you get lye on your skin please stop what you're doing, disrobe, and shower immediately.
I hope you don't mind a little info for those watching in Australia.
Lye is caustic soda Not drain cleaner. Drain cleaner here is rarely 100%. I get mine from Bunningsvand it will have suitable for soap making on the label.
Absolutely. Great information and thank you for sharing.
Thank you, I searched for this info on sites in my country and wasn’t sure about it but it’s also called caustic soda where I live (Poland).
@@Paulinek2707 be careful and ensure it is only caustic soda with no additives. It will have soapmaking as a use listed on the label
@@rallymum5246 thank you for your advice, I will check the label carefully. The ones I found on the internet are "100% NaOH" and have soapmaking as a use listed but I'll go to my local shop tomorrow to check if they got it in stock. Once again, thank you for your advice, you saved me hours of worrying :) Hopefully I'll be able to restore my grandma's skillets and pots. Have a nice day!
Thanks for the Words at the end of the video~ God bless
Water can neutralize sodium hydroxide in a can. High percentages of sodium hydroxide mixed in water may have to be neutralized with vinegar as you said. I have cleaned over 300 BBQs made of stainless steel and aluminum. God Bless!
Citric acid that you can get at the store works better as vinegar is only 5% acetic acid by volume. You'll end up with a fair volume of neutralized solution to dump using vinegar.
Good stuff here. Question: How do you dispose of the used solution? That's a LOT of lye to deal with.
BTW, the vinegar creates an exothermic reaction with the lye as it neutralizes it--it get's HOT. You're doubling your chance of a burn. Water is your best friend.
It is basically drain cleaner so I just pour it down the drain. Also the solution is much more diluted than that of soap making and the 5% acidity vinegar solution is also diluted by half so there is no reaction.
Matthew 5:14-16 got you a new subscriber THANK YOU for that. I knew I liked you
Awesome! Thank you so very much.
Sir if I may.... NEVER use vinegar on a lye burn!!! Vinegar creates a chemical reaction that creates MORE HEAT! Flush with water. You can use vinegar on surfaces to help during clean up. Love your videos.
The lye solution is 1 pound for 5 gallons for setting up a lye tank. The concentration is much less than what you would use for making soap. My vinegar solution is 50% water and 50% vinegar, with the vinegar being only 5% acidity. For use in cleaning cast iron and neutralizing that particular solution, I have never had an issue. On the other hand if I were making soap, the concentration would be much higher and there would be a reactive problem. I just recently found out about the concentration involved in making soap and I suppose I need to explain the difference when mentioning the use of vinegar to neutralize lye.
I have never used a lye tank. I use an E tank.
The E-Tank is my favorite method but I will use a Lye Tank for pieces that are waiting there turn for the E-Tank. It cuts down on the overall time and some people have only a piece or two to do so it is a good alternative for people that are unable or do not want to build an E-Tank.
5:40 - “and I’m gonna take my time….”
(sends it all)
“and we’re gonna put the entire 1-pound bottle in there…”
You're a charming fellow
For an odd shape try a 35 lb kitty litter bucket
Crazy you got that bucket for $1 Home Depot sells the same for $4.48.
On Facebook (on April 1st), they declared a ban on lying. So instead of lye tanks, we can only build "Truth Tanks." Happy April 1st.
That's funny. We need all the laughter that we can get lately.
A flat container works far better than a bucket. Multiple items can be stacked in them easily with nothing sticking up.
Yes, I agree.
Or put the handle on before
Tidy cat plastic cat litter container tall enough for number 8 & 9 pans
muffin pams and corn bread pans are not worth the time in my in my opinion why? really worth the the time to cook in stuff that is not worth it?? do you gain anything rediculous waste you can do same results in modern stuff why spend time on the stuff skilllets are only worth the time
How do you dispose of the dirty lye water? Do you just pour it on the ground away from vegetation?
Amen