A friend gave me this old DO in January 2009 and I've just started trying to restore it. I don't know anyone with a bead blaster and I don't really care about even trying electrolysis. Anyway...I don't know who made it and couldn't see any marks on it when I got it. My friend and her husband bought an old farm 30 years ago and this was in the farmhouse. I really love it...I have never seen one like this. Here are some pics when I first received it. Check out the dimples on the outside...that is one reason why I really love it!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df07b3127ccec660c73475dc00000040O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Inside and top of lid

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df07b3127ccec66020c735c400000040O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Inside the pot...lots of rust, and yeah, that's a dead ladybug

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df07b3127ccec6604576f4ef00000040O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

The inside of the lid had a lot of rust build up...it was worse than the pot. :eek:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df07b3127ccec661b4de94eb00000040O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df07b3127ccec6614c2d155400000050O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Bottom of the pot

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df07b3127ccec6609f2e75ea00000040O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

So last week I let it soak in some water for about an hour and then started scrubbing with steel wool and soap. It cleaned up a little better than I thought. Here are pics after the 1st scrub.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1d727b3127ccefe58de6e956500000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1d727b3127ccefe58aa95149400000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Didn't really get too much off the inside of the lid, but enough where I could see the marking "88C". Anyone familiar with that???? I also found the same marking on the bottom of the pot that I had not seen before either.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1d727b3127ccefe598668b50300000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

So tonight after work, I let it soak in water and vinegar for about an hour and then scrubbed it again. Then I poured straight vinegar in the bowl of the lid and let it soak for a while and scrubbed again. I am very impressed with that. You can see a line where the vinegar stopped, and look at how much rust it helped take off after 2 more scrubbings.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1d734b3127ccefe4ad667f43b00000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

This is the mark I uncovered.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1d734b3127ccefe4bf825551200000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



OK, so what do y'all think I should do next? I thinking about trying more vinegar covering the entire DO or giving RowdyRays Draino method a try. What do y'all think? It's already looking better than I thought it ever would.

Thanks! :wave:

Looks like most of the job is done. I would scrub it one last time with some vegetable oil & granulated salt. Then wipe it out & season as usual.

Very cool Becky. One my wifes relatives brought a cast iron pot kinda like that to a recent family party with a roast he cooked. He bought it new in the 60's. I really wanted to offer him some money for it :whistle: :lol:

Good luck on yo resto :hail:

That is made by Chicago Hardware Foundry.. (CHF) they made the fully hammered pots and skillets..

Looks like most of the job is done. I would scrub it one last time with some vegetable oil & granulated salt. Then wipe it out & season as usual.

I hope one more time is all it takes...I'm about out of elbow grease. :lol:


Good luck on yo resto :hail:

Thanks for the luck...I need it. :thumb:

That is made by Chicago Hardware Foundry.. (CHF) they made the fully hammered pots and skillets..

THANK YOU so much, TH! I have never heard of them and will definitely be doing some research.

get ya little muratic acid at lowes.

wear gloves and work outside.

dilute it 10 parts with water roughly always add acid to water. then let it soak in that for 1/2 hr and rinse with cold water and coat with grease/lard immediately after drying it off after rinsing.

the acid will disolve the rust just the vinegar, acetic acid btw, but a helluva lot quicker.

Nice score, Becky. When you get that seasoned, you're going to love it. I have two about that size (but not the hammered finish) that I use all the time. :thumb:

Now who's flexing the chemistry degree? :-)

Awesome DO! I'm jealous!!

very cool... I would have just hit it with the sandblaster and called it good before I seasoned it.

while looking for fishing stuff in my parents' garage last weekend, i found our old DO... I might have to creatively acquire it soon...

Have you thought of putting it into the oven and then doing the self clean option on the oven?

I'd do that before anymore elbow grease. Works great for grill grates, why not that :noidea:

that is a great looking DO... an looks like you are doing a great job of getting it ready for seasoning. nothing else, season it and just a show piece. very cool, i love that old stuff too.:thumb:

Cool pot...and great info...
I have a couple rusted pans that I brought home from my folks house...Need to get to work on them...

http://www.dutchovendude.com/default.shtml
Here is a site for Dutch oven users, lots of information here.
Perhaps information on restoring a dutch oven. HTH

Any old rusty Iron I pick up at yard sales etc I take a cardboard box & line it with a plastic lawn and leaf bag and masking tape the sides to hold it up. Place the iron in it and pour two or three 3 liter bottles of cola beverage into it so the rust will be etched off by the carbolic acid in the beverage.

I get the soda at the Dollar Tree for a buck a bottle. When cleaned up rinse it off with water and dry with a towel. Then oil it and set it in the kitchen oven and repeat the process several times. Then they are back to black
and beautiful.

I got to get back on this and finish because now, not only do I have one but I have TWO! I won one on ebay a couple months ago for $85.00...it is the one on the left in the picture and is marked with an "88C". So now, I have an 88A and 88C and I'm on the search for an 88B :thumb:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf26b3127ccefedb2e924ad000000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf26b3127ccefedb51fd0a1800000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Becky I would just stay with the vinegar then season it. It's lookin good!

thats a ton of elbow grease in that project, lookin good keep after it :thumb:

I got to get back on this and finish because now, not only do I have one but I have TWO! I won one on ebay a couple months ago for $85.00...it is the one on the left in the picture and is marked with an "88C". So now, I have an 88A and 88C and I'm on the search for an 88B :thumb:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf26b3127ccefedb2e924ad000000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf26b3127ccefedb51fd0a1800000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



Sweet!! You have two... Not sure if you will find a 88B but with enough cash you can buy a 88 & Louie... :whistle: Just sayin'...

That's so cool,Becky.Good score.:thumb::thumb:

They have to be the coolest DO's i have ever seen :thumb: :thumb:

Not sure if you will find a 88B but with enough cash you can buy a 88 & Louie... :whistle: Just sayin'...

:lol::lol: I did actually find an 88B on ebay....a month after it sold. Dammit...it was in great shape, too! But I'll keep 88 and Louie in mind! :thumb:

:lol::lol: I did actually find an 88B on ebay....a month after it sold. Dammit...it was in great shape, too! But I'll keep 88 and Louie in mind! :thumb:

Natty Up!...I work Cheap...:huh: Ya got some nice CI there Sister! :thumb:

Nice lookin CI's Becky. Good luck finding the "B"

That's some sweet iron ya' got there Becky... great finds!! :thumb: :hail:

Say Slanted88,

Do you think there may be some aviation repair shops around Lexington that would have a Walnut Hull blaster that Becky could take those DO's to and getem back to gray metal ?

She won't want a glass bead machine used on em that's fur shure.

Well, I FINALLY got it seasoned last week. I took it to the farm and rubbed it down with Crisco then put it on the Weber using a full chimney of charcoal for about an hour. I also had a little Wagner Ware Sidney -O- skillet that Andy bought me for $25.00 a few years ago that I seasoned at the same time. It might be 6" or 7" but it's a great little skillet in excellent condition and sits flat. I can't believe he only paid 25 bucks for it!!

I am VERY happy with my results. I can hardly believe it is the same DO that was in such bad shape (see beginning of thread).

Before oiling:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06b5a501ed200000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06beb1e5e5c00000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06adacc3e4200000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



About 30 minutes in:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06badf15e9000000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06a8c013ea400000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06b24809f0d00000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

A few grease streaks here but they cleaned up after I sprayed a little Pam and wiped with a paper towel.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06a4158ff3300000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

One place under the lid was very rusty but I think it still turned out pretty good.

Before:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df07b3127ccec661b4de94eb00000040O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

After:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06b7ff65efe00000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

And the skillet turned out pretty well, too.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06b99e15e9a00000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06a0b7a7e0400000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

I won't use this DO much but we did have a BBQ Memorial Day weekend and I used it to warm up some green beans. Ain't it pretty? :thumb:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06b9d695e1000000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

Thanks for checking out my project! :wave: I've actually got 3 of this type DO now along with 2 skillets....gonna work on getting them cleaned up, too!

Nice work Pioneer Becky :hail:

Hell of a job Becky!!!!!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06a8c013ea400000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/



dang Becky, it turned out great!!! good job glad your efforts paid off.:thumb: poi-nts

Elbo grease poi-nts
Great stuff Becky:thumb:

Jeez that's nice. Hard to believe it's the same one.:hail:

Jeebers Becky, that's some purdy Iron.

Now just to get em trained right :lol:

I gotta set aside a weekend to get mine back in fire
and make up some good stuff to post. Sompthin
that'll have yall lickin the screen when ya see it:woohoo: !

That looks amazing Becky. You did those DO's right! :hail:

Very nice work, looks like it is going to pay off well. Good luck and I can't wait to see some posts of you using them.

Becky, here is a Youtube vido where a guy ties several approaches. & minutes in he soaks the black iron in apple cider viniger. That really cleaned it up nicely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ1lMxpqW3w&t=7m6s

Thanks, everyone! Here's another old pot we got for 25 bucks. It's in good shape, too and had no rust. It also had no lid but I don't care....I just love the shape of it! Only markings is has is an 8B on the bottom. Anyone know who may have made it, please speak up.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06a94573efe00000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/


http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06abaf1bf7f00000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

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http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2db10b3127ccef06afdbf7eba00000030O08Abt2bRu0csw e3nwk/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

:wave:

Nice job! I have a small 6 1/2 inch skillet with a round bottom. It spins like a top. I'm gonna try and peen it out. It should straighten like the tools I work on, so I'm going to have to leave the peen marks on the inside.

RowdyRay has a good post doing this


http://www.smoked-meat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2546&page=2