Restoring Cast Iron

[Boss .300 winmag]

Your right Electrolysis is the way to go. Since you mentioned it taking longer than other methods you may want to go further down that rabbit hole perfecting your setup.

You have any tips for improvement?

I have a 12 volt vehicle charger, connected to a piece of stainless steel about 24 inches long, 2 inches wide on the big side, its an angle piece.

[slavenoid]

Electrolysis Facebook groups are helpful. My setup it two stainless washer drums stacked on each other in a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Surrounded 360 degrees by stainless is ideal.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Electrolysis Facebook groups are helpful. My setup it two stainless washer drums stacked on each other in a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Surrounded 360 degrees by stainless is ideal.

Wow that is the way to go.

Dang, we used to have one we tried to use in the garden but it was full of old laundry soap.

What other secrets are you holding out on?

[Boss .300 winmag]

Electrolysis Facebook groups are helpful. My setup it two stainless washer drums stacked on each other in a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Surrounded 360 degrees by stainless is ideal.

Why so tall? How deep do you put the cast iron in with ground wire needing to be above the water?

[CoryTDF]

Following

[slavenoid]

Electrolysis Facebook groups are helpful. My setup it two stainless washer drums stacked on each other in a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Surrounded 360 degrees by stainless is ideal.

Why so tall? How deep do you put the cast iron in with ground wire needing to be above the water?

Piece of wood suspending metal hooks or rods. I can dangle steel wire down if needed also.I'll post a pic sometime.

It's tall so you can dangle several pieces in at a time, or large skillets and long griddles. It helps to have it deep when the local little league needs their massive cast iron burner grates cleaned up for the concession stand.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Electrolysis Facebook groups are helpful. My setup it two stainless washer drums stacked on each other in a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Surrounded 360 degrees by stainless is ideal.

What gauge steel wire do you use?
Why so tall? How deep do you put the cast iron in with ground wire needing to be above the water?

Piece of wood suspending metal hooks or rods. I can dangle steel wire down if needed also.I'll post a pic sometime.

It's tall so you can dangle several pieces in at a time, or large skillets and long griddles. It helps to have it deep when the local little league needs their massive cast iron burner grates cleaned up for the concession stand.

[HarboritE]

So I have a few that I want to get back into commission. A few are pretty rusty . I was thinking about having them sandblasted but I think I’ve read somewhere that’s a bad idea.I don’t have the ability for electrolysis at this time. I may just try the oven method then a wire wheel. Have you guys ruined them trying to sandblast?

[Boss .300 winmag]

So I have a few that I want to get back into commission. A few are pretty rusty . I was thinking about having them sandblasted but I think I’ve read somewhere that’s a bad idea.I don’t have the ability for electrolysis at this time. I may just try the oven method then a wire wheel. Have you guys ruined them trying to sandblast?

I tried it with course walnut shells, all it did was remove the big stuff and polish the rest of the corrosion. Yes using glass, or sand ruins them.

If it has much corrosion the oven method won’t work. Wire wheels make groves that will have to be sanded out, not recommended.

It doesn’t take much to do the electrolysis, plastic tote car charger that’s not auto shut off, piece of steel that’s free of paint or other coatings, and something to suspend the cast iron overtop the tote. Don’t do it in a confined space gas that’s produced is flammable.

[slavenoid]

So I have a few that I want to get back into commission. A few are pretty rusty . I was thinking about having them sandblasted but I think I’ve read somewhere that’s a bad idea.I don’t have the ability for electrolysis at this time. I may just try the oven method then a wire wheel. Have you guys ruined them trying to sandblast?

If it's vintage or means something to you I wouldnt. Wire wheel and blasting will damage. Oven potentially will damage. E tank or acid techniques are really your only bet for rust. Im not a fan of acid but there's tutorials on youtube.

[LDennis24]

Just curious if any of you have tried soda blasting on cast iron? I know it works great for cleaning up old motorcycle carburetors without pitting or plugging small orifices. Then after cleaning you just boil it to dissolve any soda deposits that are stuck in grooves etc.  I have a wood crate full of Wenzel that needs cleaned up and this is what I was thinking of doing to get the rust off.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Just curious if any of you have tried soda blasting on cast iron? I know it works great for cleaning up old motorcycle carburetors without pitting or plugging small orifices. Then after cleaning you just boil it to dissolve any soda deposits that are stuck in grooves etc.  I have a wood crate full of Wenzel that needs cleaned up and this is what I was thinking of doing to get the rust off.

Soda and nut shells are the only blasting methods that don’t harm cast iron. I tried walnut shells and it didn’t work very well.

Don’t know about the boiling part as it’s probably just going to induce corrosion back into it.

[Special T]

Just curious if any of you have tried soda blasting on cast iron? I know it works great for cleaning up old motorcycle carburetors without pitting or plugging small orifices. Then after cleaning you just boil it to dissolve any soda deposits that are stuck in grooves etc.  I have a wood crate full of Wenzel that needs cleaned up and this is what I was thinking of doing to get the rust off.

Soda and nut shells are the only blasting methods that don’t harm cast iron. I tried walnut shells and it didn’t work very well.

Don’t know about the boiling part as it’s probably just going to induce corrosion back into it.

When I've had a really crusty Dutch oven from burning some ingredients I'll boil water in it to loosen crud then scrape wipe and toss in the oven at 250. Then I oil it up. I've never noticed rusting as a result.

[LDennis24]

Just curious if any of you have tried soda blasting on cast iron? I know it works great for cleaning up old motorcycle carburetors without pitting or plugging small orifices. Then after cleaning you just boil it to dissolve any soda deposits that are stuck in grooves etc.  I have a wood crate full of Wenzel that needs cleaned up and this is what I was thinking of doing to get the rust off.

Soda and nut shells are the only blasting methods that don’t harm cast iron. I tried walnut shells and it didn’t work very well.

Don’t know about the boiling part as it’s probably just going to induce corrosion back into it.

When I've had a really crusty Dutch oven from burning some ingredients I'll boil water in it to loosen crud then scrape wipe and toss in the oven at 250. Then I oil it up. I've never noticed rusting as a result.

Yeah you guys both make good points and that was my thought as well. The baking soda dissolves easily and if you do as Special T said though and immediately dry roast the pan you will get it before the rust comes back on.  Then re-season. I think I will try the soda on mine and let you guys know how it turned out. I recently pulled the box out and will be a while getting to it but I will definitely post results and pics on here.