First time owning a cast iron

K

Katie C

New member
I was picking through an estate for other types of antiques. The owner gave me a cast iron out of the garage for free. After researching what it was I realized restoring it would be a lot harder than I thought. I had been thinking of getting a cast iron but hadn’t really started learning anything about them until I got this. I would really like this to be something that lasts me a long time. I’m looking for any kind of advice on restoring this! I’d also be interested to know what it is worth as well. Really anything is appreciated lol.
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Before you start restoring this piece, I suggest you read the article Plated finish wear under the drop-down menu Reference topics on the home page. Cleaning up chrome plated cast iron is not much different than cleaning regular cast iron, but there are some things that can cause the chrome to "yellow" or go off color. Definitely read the Restoration section on the home page. Some things apply whether it's Chrome or regular cast iron. If you don't understand the procedures or have any questions about what you have read, don't be afraid to get on the forum and ask questions. There is a ton of knowledge, tips, and techniques in the membership of this forum and the site administrator, Doug, is one of the most knowledgeable cast iron enthusiasts I know of.

As far as worth, that's difficult to put a finger on, but check etsy and ebay "sold" for prices on similar items. Keep in mind their prices are usually inflated, but they will give you an idea of where to start when pricing your CI item. Good Luck.
 
Thanks for the responses! I was overwhelmed when I realized I had gotten something worth way more than free. I’m 24 and have a huge interest in antiques and restoration but I’m prone to making mistakes. The woman that gave it to me said to just boil dawn dish soap in it but I quickly realized that wouldn’t restore this!
 
Estate sale finds are fun. Sometimes crusty and really needing cleaning. Be sure to check for flatness, cracks etc per the info on this site. It can be really rewarding to clean up an ugly old pan to a thing of beauty.
 
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