How do I restore this cast iron burner?

[K_Yan]

I found this at an estate sale today.
How do I go about restoring this piece? Hoping to hook it and use it some time down the line...

Also if this can be IDed that would be great too!

 

[Doug D.]

There was a Peerless Foundry in Indianapolis, but the word was also used as as a model designation by some others. Most restorations try to keep to the original look. Disassemble all parts for ease of cleaning and for painting of different colors. Electrolysis would be the best choice for rust and remaining paint removal. Many use a high-temp gloss or semi-gloss black on the grate and feet, a matte silver or aluminum color engine paint on the burner body, and a clear lacquer on the outer parts of the gas valve and air vent.

 

[K_Yan]

gosh, that's way more complicated than I expected! I believe I'll need to read up a lot more before I can get started on this project. For now, I think I'll be using it as a stand for my plants

Do you think the evapo rust you always recommend will be any good in this situation?

 

[Doug D.]

EvapoRust would probably not be the choice here because of the necessity to submerge pieces and the expense that much ER would involve.

 

[K_Yan]

Based on your response, I looked up how other people have been cleaning larger objects with evapo rust. It seems like it can also be sprayed and plastic bagged afterwards to prevent evaporation, much like using oven cleaner to clean CI! I'm going to try this along with some oven cleaner and see how much of the gunk I can get off

 

[Doug D.]

The ER may or may not be so good at getting the paint off, however. Appears that while it may compromise painted finishes, it's not necessarily a paint remover.

 

[Stan D]

You may want to submerge it. Rust happens on the inside as well. But I've had better results with electrolysis. I've done a few Coleman stove burners, and they turned out real clean. You'll have to repaint, but it looks like it needs it anyways.