re: Lodge cast iron, anybody cook with it?

I have many a fond memory of driving up there as a kid every July 4th from Huntsville to load up on fireworks.

The new blacklock line is solid cast iron

In addition to cast iron I really like the Lodge 12" carbon steel skillet. It heats faster and is lighter than the cast iron and easy to season.

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And also a hell of a lot harder to find than a Lodge you can get off amazon.

ETA: Unless you're willing to pay a hell of a lot more than a Lodge off Ebay.

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Well to be fair, there are some Griswolds to be had cheaply if you know where to look.
I have also done my share of sanding the new lodges down and reseasoning them because of the coarse sand they use in their casting these days. I don't know why they have gone to this, but they are much less non stick initially than they were before the switch.
I'd rather work on old cast iron to restore it, and bring it back to serviceable than have to fix new cast iron that the factory decided to cut corners on.

Best way to strip, imo, is throwing into hot fire and getting down to pure iron

I season using flaxseed oil. Some people do 2-3 layers, but I like to get about 5. Then I'm cooking a whole lot of bacon with my first use.

I use two methods to strip iron.

Lye bath to remove old seasoning and gunk.
Electrolysis tank for removing rust.
I do a lot of iron so have setup both tanks.

Both methods are gentle on the iron, very effective and will not alter the iron in any way. Collectors will know if you sanded or used a grinder/wire wheel to remove rust and consider the piece destroyed. If you are not interesting in retaining collector value then you can grind/sand away. Also I would not throw iron in a fire. You will probably get away with it with heavy BSR or Lodge iron but older iron may warp.

If you have a couple pieces to do you can use Easy off for stripping old seasoning and vinegar to remove rust. Google both and you will find instructions on how to do it. Not much to it.

For seasoning I use Crisco. Cheap and works as good as anything. I can post instructions on my method but it can get long.

I would stay away from Flax Seed Oil. A lot of people have had problems with it flaking off.

Sorry for the long post, I like discussing iron.

Rouge, i can understand your concern but Lye is used in soap making, to cure olives and for making bagels. I guess it can be considered a poison but in concentrated form is caustic. I would bet it would eat skin before it could poison you. It rinses off of iron with soap and water and does not leave any residue.

But I do agree it is dangerous stuff and has to be respected. Gloves and eye protection should be used. Follow safety procedures and you will be fine.

I really have no experience with Flax. It is too expensive for me to use for the amount of iron I clean. I was told by people with a lot more experience than me I should stay away from it so I do. I am told it really looks good though.

So I have done a few pieces, some with the Easy Off method and some on the self cleaning oven cycle. Then vinegar to remove rust. I seasoned these with Crisco, and they turned out good after 5-6 rounds of seasoning. Cooked bacon in them, and I keep them maintained with light Crisco seasoning and also bacon butter (solidified grease). I screwed up the season on a BSR because I put it on a commercial gas grill to sear some dry aged steaks, and I think it got too hot.

The one piece that is giving me headaches is a No. 7 BSR that belongs to one of my wife's friends. I have honestly never seen a skillet in such a state of disrepair. When it was delivered to me it had so much carbon buildup in the bottom that I wondered what had been cooked in it. The buildup was flaking and appeared to be taking iron off with it, but it was hard to tell. I've used the Easy Off method twice on this thing and it still is about three different shades of black, as well as a healthy level of rust.

Wondering if I should try the self cleaning oven method as a last resort or take it to a guy who refinishes iron about 30 miles from here and have him look at it.. At what point is cast iron non recoverable?

Rouge, Electro tanks are easy to setup. I say go for it. All you need is an old manual battery charger or an old AT computer PS and you are more than half way there.

It can also remove old seasoning in time so you may not need a lye bath. Lye bath is easier and no power needed. You can also throw a piece in the Lye bath and forget it for months and not have to worry about it harming the iron.

Rip
If you can post a pic I may be able to see what you are dealing with.

It is my understanding that pure carbon will not be removed by Lye. Electrolysis will usually get the last of it off. I usually go from Lye bath to electrolysis.

Did that BSR warp are just needs re-seasoning? BSR is tough stuff just like Lodge.