What's Went Wrong?

M

Marsha B

New member
Certainly not what I expected.
Not pretty at all.

I have put them twice on the grill at 425* for an hour each time.
Should I just put them through the lye bath again and start over?
Advice needed!!!!

On my oops thread someone stated the oven maintains an even temperature.
Since my grill is new I trust the thermometer of my grill.
The big skillet has the crack close to the handle and it looks more grey than seasoned. I measured the crack and it is closer to an inch crack..(think I will throw it away)
The skillet came out more grey metal looking so I am wondering if it has been put on a HOT fire before since the handle seemed reddish color.

The Wagner...(top left) I am hoping to save..
It is my favorite.
I was just expecting a solid covering of seasoning.
Both times I put on a thin layer of Crisco (solid).

Any advice would be taken for sure!
 

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The blotchiness visible on the top pan in the pic is due to having too much oil. You need to wipe it as dry as you can, what's left will still be enough.
 
Definitely a result of not wiping off enough of the Crisco. You have to wipe off as much as you possibly can- there will still be enough left to get the job done. The good news is, if these are for use and not resale, you can just go ahead and start using them as-is. They will eventually build a more even layer of seasoning.
 
No need to place back in lye. It will even out over time with cooking.

I wouldn't throw the skillet away with a crack. It might be able to be used as a cornbread skillet or make it into a clock.
 
Some of this Cast Iron is very old and way before any Quality Control was Invented.
So it might never look "Perfect"

I have a Griswold #8 with a crack that gets used almost every day.
It's cracked on the side but not all the way to the bottom.
If it starts to crack on the bottom I might stop using it.

When on vacation in FL I did pick up 15 pans and a couple of the Wagners have cracks on the side wall but I will still use them for sure.

Common Sense will get you thru most of this Cast Iron business and ALMOST all Cast Iron will not perfect.

Please notice that I said almost, because some will claim to have Perfect Cast Iron..............
 
I think the disappointment being expressed is with the appearance of the seasoning, not of the iron itself.
 
Marsha B said:
Certainly not what I expected.
Not pretty at all.

I have put them twice on the grill at 425* for an hour each time.
Should I just put them through the lye bath again and start over?
Advice needed!!!!

On my oops thread someone stated the oven maintains an even temperature.
Since my grill is new I trust the thermometer of my grill.
The big skillet has the crack close to the handle and it looks more grey than seasoned. I measured the crack and it is closer to an inch crack..(think I will throw it away)
The skillet came out more grey metal looking so I am wondering if it has been put on a HOT fire before since the handle seemed reddish color.

The Wagner...(top left) I am hoping to save..
It is my favorite.
I was just expecting a solid covering of seasoning.
Both times I put on a thin layer of Crisco (solid).

Any advice would be taken for sure!
Click to expand...
Marsha, did you follow the directions from the Initial Seasoning section on this site? That is wipe with paper towels after applying the initial oil. Immediately follow-up with a cloth rag wipe to get off as much as you can (you won't get it off) before it goes in the oven. After 15 minutes, take it out of the oven and wipe with the cloth rag to remove the stuff you thought you got. The stuff you show in the pictures is probably what you would have removed after 15 minutes.
 
Thanks everyone!
I wiped a on a thin layer of the Crisco and wiped it off.
Wiped it off again before I put it on the grill..
My husband commented that I hardly put any on...but now
I think I'll do Karate Kid and wipe on...wipe off.
Then wipe off...wipe off..WIPE OFF!!

I am going to do as suggested and use them as is.
I will also use the pan with the crack since it is good up to the crack?
I am user of my cast iron.....no way could I resale.

Now I need to replace the lye and a container so I can clean three more!!

---------- Post added at 05:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 PM ----------

Wally,
I did not take them out and re-wipe them.
I did the wipe on, wipe off with paper towels...
Wiped of with a cloth towel before placing them..

So..now I need to wipe them off again after 15 minutes with the cloth towel...
That tidbit will help...
Thanks!!
 
Marsha,

If no one forwarded this to you previously, then highly recommend you check it out.

http://www.castironcollector.com/seasoning.php#

In addition to different oils and temperatures, it gives you a very detailed process to consider.

Doug also provides information about equipment for the lye bath and etank, e.g. specs re: UV light so that they won't crack.

Lots and lots of information on the site to check out.

Have fun.
 
For your replacement Lye tank look around for a HDPE container.
The HDPE symbol can be found on the bottom of the barrel.
These are all the Blue barrels you see.
They come in 55, 30 and 15 gallon sizes.

The 15 gallon size is real nice as it is a little smaller in size.

The 15 gallon size is used for Liquid Pool Chlorine .

You might be able to find one at a Pool Supply store, but they would want money.

Or snoop around Hotels/ Motels with pools and talk to the Maintenance People to see if you can talk them out of one.

I have a 30 gallon on a rolling cart so I can put it out in the Sun.
Works very nice.
 
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