re: Advice on restoring a large black iron pot

Check out this website if you want to do it right:

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don't put water on it while it's hot, there's a chance it would crack.

Listen to Kajungee or post this on the food board.

And clean those fricking toenails.

I've restored dozens of vintage Griswold and Wagner iron pots and pans.

Follow Martini's advice. Get a fire going and burn off the rust and built up crud. Use a steel brush to remove tough build up after the burn. Season with shortening or canola oil. Do not sandblast or use chemicals if you intend to cook with it afterward.

Some pots do crack after being exposed to really intense fire. It happens but is quite rare..

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Check out this website if you want to do it right: LINK /

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I have three large 100+ year old cauldrons I use for jambalaya. I took a drill with a wire brush and buffed off the loose rust then followed the article. To heat the pots I turn them up side down on my burner. Flax seed oil is the only oil I use now. Keep the burner about 1/3 to 1/2 open. I watch the temp on the out side of the pot to keep it under control. You will have a cure that you will be proud of. Take the time to do it right.
Frying fish will add to your cure after this.

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Vinegar water half/half soak for a few hours then wire brush to remove the rust.

don't let the vinegar soak over night it will pit the metal.

season with lard or crisco after

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Since posting that thread that someone linked to you here, I've done many and used this method.

Pot for drexyl

Check out eBay. I just bought one last week. I love cooking in the tradition "witch's cauldron". They cook so well. The pot belly adds to it cooking ability. Take your time in your search. If you take your time you can get a reasonable deal. Watch for severe pitting, some mild pitting is ok. You also want three full length legs and complete lifting loops. Watch for cracks and drain holes, people love to use them as planters. They are great conversation pieces at cook outs.
Make sure to ask the seller to take extra care in shipping as the cast iron is brittle.
Size 10 max capacity is 7 gallons. I cook 5 gallons in it
Size 15 max capacity is 12 gallons. I cook 10 gallons in this one. Sellers often don't know numbers as they relate to capacity. I often see 15 gallon pot in description when they really only hold 12. Etc

This is a good resource for removing rust the correct way.

LINK

Seceral ways to clean it is an understatement. I'm afraid that it may crack if I put it in a big fire. Maybe a bed of coals would be better. This is going to take some more research. Thanks for all the articles