Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Treating a steel goldpan

What can I do to treat my goldpan to stop it from rusting so quick ?

Judith Trottier
nil - Fort St John , BC, Canada
2005

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2005

I would try to age it the way folks age their cast iron cooking pans.

Coat the pan with cooking oil, and heat it in a 400 degree F oven until the oil smokes. Let it cool by turning off the oven. Do this several times and it may help. If you can heat it outside, try some linseed oil [affil links]. I don't know if panning will scrap this coating off in a hurry.

You can wipe the pan will oil after each use before storing. WD-40 [on eBay or Amazon] is a water displacing oil that may be the best solution.

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania

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Do not oil a goldpan- you will defeat it's purpose.
If it IS oiled invert it over a fire to remove the oil before use. I carry a plastic pan- my choice- but you might be able to retard rust if you gun metal blue the pan: Dixie gun works and others sell cold blueing products. Good luck.

R.W.Rexford
- Seattle, Washington, USA
2005