I went to the St. Vincent Depaul today to donate some items and while there came accross a Griswold #7 with big block lettering. At first I offered them $15 for iit but they turned it down so I left. Went back in after reconsidering and bought it fo $20 out the door. She's in pretty rough shape so it was bought on hopes she will clean up ok. Right now it's in a plastic bag dowsed with easy off. I'll check it tomorrow morning to see how see will clean up.
Griswold #7 in bad shape
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Yikes, that's a lot of rust. I haven't heard to too many cast iron pans that couldn't be revived, so I bet you'll be fine.
Wire brushes, sandpaper and elbow grease - enjoy!
It's a lost cause. Send it to me for proper and safe disposal.
Sandblasting if you're friendly with any metalworking folks.
Ww
Ww
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- #6
How did you end up cleaning it?
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- #8
I started with covering it in oven cleaner at setting it in a sealed bag for a day. Got a lot of it cleaned up with just that but had to take some sandpaper to a few spots that were holding on to some of the rust. From there was a dip in a vinegar solution for 30 minutes then season.
You did a great job. Enjoy that #7. 
Those must be some good skillets. It seems like people go through a lot just to be able to use them. Nice job!
Very nice job. I've fallen in love with my cast iron.
Nice job! I just restored a lodge but I still may be looking for a griswold
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- #13
I've been lucky, found a number 7 and a number 8 Griswold here in town. There are more but finding them for a decent price seems to be the biggest challenge.
nicely done! i restored a #10 a while back and still having a tough time getting a coating to keep on it. Would love to find a smaller #7 too
I paid $7 for a #6 at a flea market. It was clean and barely needed seasoned. They are out there. 
Vinegar bath is the winner for me. Cheap and easily obtained at any grocery store.
Run it through the cleaning cycle of a self-cleaning oven, then clean with a brillo pad (because it will start a light rust even before it cools) and then cure. This gets all traces of animal meat off as well for prudish vegans. Should not use this for ceramic or porcelain coated pieces.
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- #19
I ended up cleaning it some more; wasn't entirely happy with the results after initial seasoning. Set up a lye bath and let it soak for a few days. Now it works as I had hoped.
I'm considering getting an electrolysis set up.
I'm considering getting an electrolysis set up.
I've never used the lye bath, but it's my impression that folks who deal in cast iron and clean a lot of cast iron go with the lye bath. Pretty cheap, but I'm thinking a bit of a safety issue with keeping it around.
When I first started cleaning up some cast iron, I went the Easy Off way. It does work, but not for cast iron that is caked with built up "seasoning". I ended up trying Carbon-off liquid degreaser. For my occasional uses, it really did the trick for me. Not inexpensive like lye though.
-jim
When I first started cleaning up some cast iron, I went the Easy Off way. It does work, but not for cast iron that is caked with built up "seasoning". I ended up trying Carbon-off liquid degreaser. For my occasional uses, it really did the trick for me. Not inexpensive like lye though.
-jim
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