Hi all,
what is the best way to try & clean up this 10'' Metters..I've never had 1 as bad as this before so I'm not sure what to do with it...sadly the legs have been cut off.

                       Thanks in advance Sue

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Nice pot shame about the legs,,,,,, looks like a job for electrolisis or mollasses to me Sue. I doubt all that rust will come off with just a wire  brush :( You could also take it and get it blasted with glass beads,,,,,,Dont let them use sand its to harsh in my opinion,
Still a nice usefull little pot if you can sit it on a stand or a couple of bricks/ rocks
SBB

Thanks SSB we have just printed out your advice re molasses bath...I got Russell to brush it with steel brush (with limited success due to size of brush) not bad for 5 min job...we will try to get some molasses tomorrow at the rural supplies store.

Sue

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I've never used the molasses method Sue so I can't bag it but electrolysis is the way to go for a pot like that, three days and it'll come up pretty good.
Nice find legs or no and as my mate SBB says, a couple of rocks or a trivet under it and you're cookin'.

pod

after modifying the only steel brush we could find we've got off a bit more rust, it's coming off ok so I'm hoping it will come up well, fingers crossed, as I said we've never had one that rusty.
                                         Sue

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Let us know how you go Sue and which method you used.

2 ovens , 1 lid went into molassas brew this arvo...will let you know the results next week.

Sue

ovens & lid into molasses water mix then topped up water, now anxiously waiting for the results :)

S&R

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What % water/molasses folks?
I put a vintage UMI pot in a straight molasses bath for two weeks and it came out no different. At first it was straight molasses, then son said hey you got to put in 50% water. But that did not make any difference.
What did I do wrong?
I gave up on this.
The pot was rusty and well covered in black soot from fires.

KD

That little squat pot with the bail looks interesting Sue, cleaned up and with a lid it would be very useful .....
pod

Sue, why didn't you use a self cleaning oven, cleaning cycle?

You still could.  When it is done and completely cool, come to oven door with vacuum cleaner hose in hand and vacuum out the loose stuff.

Next, skip the wire brush.  It's not fine enough.  Can't you buy packages of steel wool, just the steel wool?  (No soap in them).  After oven use that steel wool to pick up the fine stuff and complete the rust pick up.

Clean, dry, oil & season.

:-/

Hi LK
we don't have a self cleaning oven!
the wire brush was very good for getting all the loose rust off quickly
we do normally use steel wool for lightly rusted items.
Sue

I am not sure that self cleaning ovens are available over here.  I know I have never seen one.

What temperature do they get up to LK???

Little_Kopit wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2010 at 12:10am:

Sue, why didn't you use a self cleaning oven, cleaning cycle?

The oven in our wood burning stove is always on the cleaning cycle.  ;D

The electric stoves with self cleaning ovens to to 800'F.  Interesting, how we assume the same stuff is there for us all.

I got this stove with this self-cleaning cycle for CI.  

Of course, when the cycle is running the oven has locked itself

Love your options SJ.

:)

Yes LK, The only cleaning agents I need for our oven is a dust pan and brush ;D

I've been hesitant to mention it but I'm told that when an oven or any cast iron pot, or skillet got in really bad shape, my grandfather would just put it in the camp fire and leave it there until morning.  I have to imagine that its the same principal as running it through the self cleaning cycle in an oven.  

I never got a chance to meet him as my grandfather passed away before I was born - But I have several of his cast iron, and spun steel fry pans and I still use them regularly.

That method certainly works Grizz, providing the fire is not too hot, otherwise there is a risk of warping or deforming iron ware. I personally prefer to control the rate heating of my pots and remove them from the heat the instant the crud has burnt off.

Been following this "self cleaning oven" and "chuck it in the fire" rust removal stuff with interest :o :o
Can you really burn rust off and get it back to bare metal??????
( bad rust like Mummsy's oven has not just baked on crud ).
Id be very interested to see some photos of this and the end result :) :)

Stump Jump wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 3:04pm:

providing the fire is not too hot

How hot is too hot SJ ???? :-/ :-/.
The reason I ask is that I considered trying this with my 22 inch Carron recently, as I was having trouble finding a container big enough to "Mollasses Bath" it in. SBL started getting cranky when I suggested the bath tub :( :( :'(
SBB

Saltbush Bill wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 8:08pm:

Been following this "self cleaning oven" and "chuck it in the fire" rust removal stuff with interest :o :o Can you really burn rust off and get it back to bare metal?????? ( bad rust like Mummsy's oven has not just baked on crud ). Id be very interested to see some photos of this and the end result :) :) Stump Jump wrote on Feb 23rd, 2010 at 3:04pm: providing the fire is not too hot How hot is too hot SJ ???? :-/ :-/. The reason I ask is that I considered trying this with my 22 inch Carron recently, as I was having trouble finding a container big enough to "Mollasses Bath" it in. SBL started getting cranky when I suggested the bath tub :( :( :'( SBB

SBB

The amount of heat used depends on the thickness of the cast iron, i.e a heavy thick walled pot can take more heat safely than thin iron pots like your Carron. However as a general rule of thumb, I don't allow the cast iron to glow anywhere on the pot, even a very dull cherry red colour is too much. If this occurs I reduce heat immediately.

Assessing the temperature of your pot over a camp fire is best done during semi dark or twilight conditions where it is easier to discern whether your pot is glowing or not.

If the pot has deep rust divots or heavy delamination in the walls or base, then extreme care needs to be exercised when using this method.

Hope this helps

Just had a peek at how the molasses bath is going, pots have been in since Sunday
I will leave them in for a couple more days

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mummsy wrote on Feb 26^th, 2010 at 9:06am:

Just had a peek at how the molasses bath is going, pots have been in since Sunday I will leave them in for a couple more days

Looks good Mummsy

If ya really want to get it going just add some coke to the brew, but beware it will eat metal like it's going out of style :D

MMMMMMMM yes looking good so far ...have sent pm
SBB

Stump Jump wrote on Feb 26^th, 2010 at 9:13am:

it will eat metal like it's going out of style

Got that right SJ
I did a clean on an old Taiwanese job last year.
Left it in just a litte too long.
The lid didn't fit very well after the clean up.
Kept wanting to fall into the base.
bugga  :-[

Aart

pots are looking pretty good...will remove & scrub up tomorrow with some steel wool as my metal brush isn't small enough
SBB what is the longest that you have ever left pots in brew...
                          Sue

I must ask SBB is this mix toxic? our dog quite likes licking the pots as I take them out
(she's a lab...that says it all really)

I usually check them every day once they look close to done.
If your short of time to scrub them just take them out of the mix. Squirt them with the hose ( get the really lose stuff off) and then put them in a container of fresh clean water. The idea is to keep the oxygen away from them so that new rust doesnt start. You can leave them in clean fresh water until your ready to scrub(days if need be). without any problem.


mummsy wrote on Mar 1^st, 2010 at 8:12pm:

I must ask SBB is this mix toxic?

Dont really know about that Sue...it could be a bit alcoholic after fermenting the way it does.....does the dog look happy???? :-/.......maybe someone else might know more.
SBB

Thanks SBB

after 10 days in the molasses mix the pots r cleaned & oiled

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pics of other pot

engraved in base appears to be

?T&C Clarke & Co
    Patent

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Thats a terrific result Mummsy.  

Thats come up real good Mummsy
Shame about the legs on that Carron
Still be a great asset to any collection

Aart

I think you caught "Castironitis". :D ;)

KD

Kingsthorpe David wrote on Mar 10^th, 2010 at 7:29pm:

I think you caught "Castironitis".

I heard that mummsy and Russ are building a new shed, me thinks the addiction is fully seeded.

Michaelb wrote on Mar 11^th, 2010 at 7:36am:

I heard that mummsy and Russ are building a new shed,

I went to my shed to check out the CO collection.
Am doing some catering next week for my daughter's boyfriends 21st.

Shock horror  :o
After all the rain we've had..some of the COs have rust on them and the remainder have mould.

Don't bother guessing what I will be doing today.

Also have to find a better place to store them from here on.

Aart

Any further questions on molasses baths for rusty camp ovens can be directed to Mummsy......she seems to have it well and truely under control. ;)..........well done Sue


TBF wrote on Mar 11^th, 2010 at 8:34am:

Also have to find a better place to store them from here on.

Sneek em inside and hide them under ya bed Aart
SBB

TBF wrote on Mar 11^th, 2010 at 8:34am:

Also have to find a better place to store them from here on.

Sneek em inside and hide them under ya bed Aart
SBB [/quote]

Fat chance of getting away with that Rory

Just finished the cleaning of 6 COs and that CI bread tin.
Had there first oil and being put through the hooded BBQ as I type.
The Cabelas 20" will have to wait till i get a big fire going.

Aart

Team  
I need some advice on my 10" Metters.
It was purchased from an Antique shop and has that black painted on finish.
I want to remove that and a little rust that is starting to show.
Because of it's size and weight I want to use it as my traveller.
How do I best go about this..will the molasses do the trick on that paint?

over to you my friends

Aart

I have had molasses remove paint at times Aart.
Having said that the paint in question was very old and pretty loose to begin with.
I doubt that it will remove a thick coat of good paint.
If your pot has been painted with some sort of "pot belly" paint it may come off as some of those are water soluble.
I'm thinking a good hot fire might be the answer.
SBB

TBF wrote on Mar 12^th, 2010 at 9:52am:

Team   I need some advice on my 10" Metters. It was purchased from an Antique shop and has that black painted on finish. I want to remove that and a little rust that is starting to show. Because of it's size and weight I want to use it as my traveller. How do I best go about this..will the molasses do the trick on that paint? over to you my friends Aart

Aart,

I agree with SBB, a fire with a good bed of coals is the best bet to remove the paint, however if you use this method, then you will need to be careful that you don't damage your pot through overheating.

I bought some old ovens that had been painted several times with who knows what sort of paint, I hit them with paint stripper which took off several layers of yellow paint but wouldn't take off the black paint that was underneath. As SJ suggests I then put them in a fire which did the trick, in saying that I don't think it'll work with "Pot Belly Black" paint which has a high heat resistance. Maybe Aart you'll have to resort to the sanding disc.... carefully.

pod

what about a cheap sand blaster
have had succes with plastic coated
items / just sand from sand hills put through
fly wire screen & used, some dirt but not as
abrasive as pure sand, takes a while / need
compressor though  :(

Daryl

SBB, SJ & Pod

Thanks for the advice fellas.

I think I'll do the fire genlty, gently...followed by Molasses if no luck and then

poddy dodger wrote on Mar 12^th, 2010 at 3:08pm:

Maybe Aart you'll have to resort to the sanding disc.... carefully

as that last resort.

Will post when the job is done.
When I get time in the next week or 2 to do the job.

Aart

Daryl
Just saw your reply...
Haven't ever done any sandblasting before.
It nay be an option before using a grinding disc or brush.

thanks again fellas

TBF
     dirty job but with sand can do
lightly / need mask & goggles

Daryl