#3 Skillet Does Not Want to Come Clean

[BillP]

Ty, I have some black rebar tie wire. A quick google search leads me to believe that it is annealed, although I can't identify as such - no label on spool.

Do you reckon tie wire would work with your nail trick?

[Doug D.]

Having encountered these "warts" dozens of times in the past, I'm just going to throw this out there: Lye isn't always 100% effective. Electro isn't always 100% effective. When they're not, you need to be open to switching gears and doing something simple that takes a few minutes as opposed to continuing to throw technology at it for another 24 hours. A SS Chore Boy or a putty knife with the corners filed round (so as not to scratch) followed by some vinegar and steel wool to reduce the residual stain is very effective. And a lot quicker. See: www.castironcollector.com/cleaning.php#finish

[BillP]

Doug, as to the vinegar, my jar of white vinegar says 5% acidity.

Is that the strength to use, or something else?

[Doug D.]

Plain old regular white vinegar, cheapest you can find. The vinegar will be for the stain left by the "wart", not the wart itself. It is also effective at diminishing the appearance of black stains typically left where rust was once active.