r/CastIronRestoration

A few months ago my father passed away, and I inherited his two decades old cast iron skillets. Cooking with him was one of my favorite things as a kid so they’re really special to me and hold a lot of sentimental value.
The issue is that these skillets were both in storage for multiple years as my dad was suffering from cancer and couldn’t use them anymore. They’re now in pretty bad shape, with what I’m guessing is either rust (the orange on the bottom) and/or sticky rancid oil on the bottom and sides. Their tops look a little better, and don’t have the thick sticky residue.
Does anyone have any advice for cleaning this gunk off, and is it safe to cook with these? I’ve had them in storage for several months but I know my dad would have wanted me to be able to use them.

A friend’s enameled cast iron pot that they use fairly often. I’m not entirely sure what to make of its condition. Is it beyond saving? If not, any suggestions on how to resurrect it? Any advice would be very much appreciated.

[Yard Sale Find](http://imgur.com/a/MSD1s) I got this guy at a yard sale and had never heard of Wapak before. Got home and was pleasantly surprised that it's at least 90 years old (Wapak went out of business in 1926.) Nice smooth surface and only a slight warp...or it's my cooking grates. Had to do a lye bath then put it in some citric acid to get some of the rust from the bottom off. Wish I took before pics.

Slant logo griswold griddle I posted prior is fully restored! I also found a wagner sidney double arc logo between now and then for $40, but I forgot to take a picture of before. The wagner does have a slight wobble, but I cook on gas and the wobble is very minor.

I picked this up in Mexico this week from a bazaar for 125 pesos. Not going to cook with it but thought it was too interesting to pass on. It looks to me like a Lodge no-notch recast. The inside is fairly smooth, but not milled, and shifty. The bottom is very rough and pitted. I'll post more pics after restoration.

Shes having a spa day.

Old lodge, at least 1960s but probably older. We,ll see when the rust is off enough to see the bottom.

Just picked up this amazing antique Griswold no 8 skillet in enameled green with the matching self basting lid. It has an enameled exterior and raw cast iron interior. The skillet is heavily carbonized and nothing I’ve tried by hand (soap and water, bar keepers friend, wooden scrapers, etc) has made anything more than a tiny dent. There does not seem to be a lot of info on restoring these vintage enameled pieces other than the yellow cap easy-off method MAY etch older enamel but I’ve seen nothing definitive. Anyone have experience with this?

Hey everyone, I called dibs on my great grandma Nina’s cast iron skillet. She used it a lot and was an everyday cooker. Not sure where to begin or what I should do before I start cooking in it? The bottom looks smooth and almost shiny and not like my parents cast iron which is newer. Thank you!!

I am restoring this cast iron cover and I have left it in a lye bath for 2 days but still looks like this. Is this a lye bath problem still or e tank problem?

...toss Monday Mornings in the fire.

You never know what you'll find under decades of someone else's grime. Sometimes, you find disappointment. Oh, well. If nothing else, it'll look great on the wall.

I brought home my late grandmother’s cast iron a while back and was finally able to restore it. My grandparents raised me so this pan cooked so many of my meals growing up. Lots of chicken fried steak and fried everything!

I cried the day I finished. I love it & the memories it holds so much and have told all family I’m the only one allowed to cook with it moving forward because I’m so afraid someone will drop it :-)

I used the oven cleaner method and it took about three rounds of sitting in the Texas heat to strip all the build up.

Love it!