New Pan/pitting?

[EvaD]

Hello everyone!
I was recently staying at a family members house, and it made me decide I need to up my cookware game. So after a tiny amount of research into cast iron, and realizing older is better, I went to a flea market to search for some!
I did find 1 pan that interested me, but I had some concerns about the bottom of it.... Mostly how much pitting is too much. I left the pan there, and decided to see if I found anything else that caught my interest.
Nothing else did, and I went back to examine the same one more. It has a very smooth cooking surface, with no cracks, and no pitting. I decided to get it!
So I'm wondering now if the bottom of the pan is pitted, or if it's just really bad burned on stuff. it is loose... I was able to get a piece off with my finger nail...I don't see any markings on it (covered in grim maybe?)

I'm also curious what brand it is, and when it might have been made. But that might be hard with no markings!

 

[EvaD]

Not sure if it is helpful.. but here is a closer view of the back

 

[SeanD]

Not really sure about the maker of this skillet. Kinda looks like Wapak, but its pretty thick, so Im not sure. I would strip it down to bare iron and reseason it. I think the bottom is just from years and years of cooking over a fire.

 

[EvaD]

That would be amazing if it is just build up! Thank you!

 

[Ed Grabski]

That's the kind of pan I always look for because they are very cheap most of the time.
I looks like it will clean up nice with a little work.

 

[EvaD]

I'm hoping

I was looking at some today, but they were completely covered in rust, and I'm not sure if all of it would have come out. It looked pretty dark in some areas decided not to get those ones hehe

 

[SeanD]

Im always amazed at pans that are so caked up. Makes you wonder if they ever cleaned them at all, lol....Ive had some like this one, I used Easy Off method, since Im too dull to make an E Tank, lol. Messy but it works.

 

[EvaD]

I currently have mine in a bag with easy off. I saw videos saying to leave it in for hours, is that about right?

 

[Doug D.]

Days, not hours. See: https://www.castironcollector.com/cleaning.php#spray

 

[SeanD]

I agree 100%. Leave it in the bag for days, or a week. The longer the better, just use rubber gloves when you do it, and do it outside if possible.

 

[EvaD]

It's looking better I cleaned it off, and put some more of the oven cleaner on it.

 

[Doug D.]

Always disappointing to find sulfur pitting under the crud, but not to be unexpected on a 100-year-old pan.

Related: https://www.castironcollector.com/trademarks.php#wagner