Where theworld gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989
-----
Need help cleaning ccopper pots & pans
Q. I have copper pans lined with stainless steel. They have lots of carbon and cooked on stuff on the copper. I've tried the following without success: vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon]/salt, lemon/salt, soaked 24 hour in copper cleaner, dishwasher (big mistake), Brasso [on eBay or Amazon], and ketchup. So now what?
They are really nice heavy skillets. I would like to get them back to display condition. What about putting them in the oven and turn it on to self clean? I'm a chef and like to entertain in my home. I use the pots continuously.
Schella Baker- Louisville, Mississippi
2004
A. Your parenthetical remark about the dishwasher will probably prove applicable to the self-cleaning oven as well, Schella.
You seem to have two options left. Trying to polish them with a power buffer and polishing compound, or taking them to a plating shop who will clean them in powerful boiling hot solutions and then 'brite dip' them in nitric acid or other industrial process and/or do a professional job on the buffing. Good luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004
A. See #28905 on this site. Don't use a sponge with any of the oxalic acid [affil links] products though, they dissolve rather quickly. If it is really burnt on food you are trying to remove, heating in the oven to perhaps 300 or 350 degrees and then pouring water on the areas will work wonders. Be sure to first remove any handles that won't withstand the temperature.
Tom Gallant- Long Beach, California, USA
2004
A. You can use 50 gm citric acid [on eBay or Amazon] /1 lit water solution+some ammonia [on eBay or Amazon] to adjust pH to 9(if you think that is complicated you can use only citric acid )!
Good luck!
Goran Budija- Zagreb , Croatia
2004
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread