Stripping worn plating from old Cast Iron

[dwaynejj]

I found an old cast iron pan that still has some of its original plating but most of it has worn away over the years. It looks a bit patchy and I want to get it down to the bare metal so I can season it properly and start cooking with it again. You can actually just season right over the remaining plating if it is stuck on well but removing it completely makes for a much smoother finish. A lot of these old pans were plated with nickel or chrome which can be tough to get off at home without some serious work.

Some people suggest using a lye bath or oven cleaner to get rid of old grease and carbon but that won't actually touch the metal plating. If you really want that plating gone you might need to take it to a professional plating shop to have them strip it chemically. But if you aren't worried about the collector value you can use a fine sandpaper or a wire brush to manually take off the flakes. Just make sure the surface is smooth before you start the seasoning process so the oil can bond correctly to the iron.

 

[Alan]

In case you didn't know, Wagner did only nickel. I don't think piece have been plated. But I can't be sure.

 

[shenshan5]

Nickel and chrome coatings are hard to remove and home methods mostly clean grime instead. If you want a fresh start, sanding or brushing takes time but works if you go slowly and keep it even.

 

[Paul9ray]

to remove patchy nickel/chrome plating from your cast iron pan at home, use a lye based oven cleaner for soaking. scrubbing with steel wool, then a 50/50 vinegar/water soak for any rust, rinse well, dry, and finally season by applying thin oil layers and baking until smooth, though a professional chemical strip is best for tough plating