Removing stubborn stove polish from vintage cast iron

[ice cream ...]

I found a gate marked footed kettle today that is covered in a thick layer of black gunk. It looks like someone brushed on stove polish instead of seasoning it normally. I have tried using a lye bath for months and even ran it through an electrolysis tank for days but the coating will not budge. Some spots eventually clear up while other patches stay stuck to the metal no matter what I do. I want to use this piece for cooking so I need to get it down to the bare iron. And I am looking for any methods that work better than the standard cleaning cycles for this specific type of mess.

 

[bad J0k3R]

I found a gate marked footed kettle today that is covered in a thick layer of black gunk. It looks like someone brushed on stove polish instead of seasoning it normally. I have tried using a lye bath for months and even ran it through an electrolysis tank for days but the coating will not budge. Some spots eventually clear up while other patches stay stuck to the metal no matter what I do. I want to use this piece for cooking so I need to get it down to the bare iron. And I am looking for any methods that work better than the standard cleaning cycles for this specific type of mess.

Have you tried using a heat gun or a very hot water soak to soften the polish before scrubbing?

 

[yvoxxxx]

@ice cream ... You might want to try a citrus based paint stripper if the lye is failing to break down the binders.

 

[black clover]

Make sure you check if the polish contains lead or other toxins before you decide to cook in it.

 

[mimic ^^]

I found a gate marked footed kettle today that is covered in a thick layer of black gunk. It looks like someone brushed on stove polish instead of seasoning it normally. I have tried using a lye bath for months and even ran it through an electrolysis tank for days but the coating will not budge. Some spots eventually clear up while other patches stay stuck to the metal no matter what I do. I want to use this piece for cooking so I need to get it down to the bare iron. And I am looking for any methods that work better than the standard cleaning cycles for this specific type of mess.

Does the polish have a strong chemical smell when you try to scrub it off?

 

[BigBob75]

You can use a round Scotch Brite pad ( hardware store ) in an electric or cordless drill. Wear a mask!

 

[ice cream ...]

I tried the electrolysis tank for a few days and the lye tank for a couple of weeks. And much scrubbing did work. I was hesitant to do it but I guess that was the only option to remove that stubborn stove polish.