Cleaning a tea pot

[NLevine]

Hey gang,

So i scored a flawless wagner tea pot. The only little issue is that it has some white paint on the side of it. The wire bail is in perfect shape, no dings, bends or anything. I want to dip it in the lye tank but i don't know how the wire bail will do in there. Will it get wrecked in the lye?

Also, after the lye tank i usually put my CI in the E-tank for a bit. Will the e-tank wreck the wire bail? I'd like to e-tank it since the inside has some rust (outside is immaculate other than the white paint).

Is there a better way to restore it other than lye and e-tank?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Doug D.]

Neither will hurt the tempered steel wire bail. If there's a wood handle, keep it above the water line.

 

[NLevine]

Thanks Doug! I'll start the process tonight and update this thread with pictures in a few days!

 

[NLevine]

Just finished it last night. Seasoning a teapot was a tad challenging compared to a skillet but I had fun. Any guess on the year (or range) that it was produced?

 

[Doug D.]

"Made In USA" puts it early 1960s or thereabouts.