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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Restoring a cowboy movie pot

2004

Hello

I was looking over your site and It looks as if you might have the answer I'm looking for... I have a very old large cast iron pot, Like the ones in the cowboy movies :) it's compleate with the lid and it's numbered. However the problem is it's quite rusty. I have scrubbed my hands raw.. My question is what is the best thing to use to remove the rust and not damage the pot? I appreciate anything you may be able to assist me with.

Thank You!

Have A Great Day!

Julie Young
home fixens - Palm Springs, Calif, U.S.A.

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The removal of the rust depends on the extent of the damage, and the type of metal used in it's construction. For the quickest and easiest I suggest a wire brush attachment for an angle grinder [on eBay or Amazon] (don't forget to have a face mask on!) Just wire brush the cooking surfaces. Now if it is going to be used just treat it as you would normal iron cookware, apply a light coating of vegetable oil between uses (after cleaning normally). It is good to have the pot at a warm heat when you apply the oil (just a little beyond where you can touch the bare metal comfortably). As for the oxides on the outside, I'd suggest bee's wax, it will darken the rust to a good solid black (if it is flaking off use a wire brush to take off the worst of it then apply). Bee's wax is commonly used in blacksmithing for protecting metals that you do not want a chemical on.

Give me a better idea of what it's made of and what you will be using it for and I'll see what else I can suggest to you.

Marc Banks
- Elizabeth City, North Carolina
2004

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You can use 5% citric acid [on eBay or Amazon] solution (immerse your pot in solution)! ammonium citrate solution is even better choice (5% solution, 50 gm citric acid and add ammonia [on eBay or Amazon] to pH 3,5).

Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb , Croatia
2004