Hi! My name's K and I'm an "addict"...

[kseiverd]

Addicted to "vintage" (AKA grungy) CAST IRON, that is! Got reunited with the greatness of cast iron a few years ago, when I found THREE crusty skillets at a yard sale for almost nothing. Original reason for buying was they all had "names"... Wagner, Lodge, etc. Though my method for cleaning them up is probably CI HERESY, once de-crusted and reseasoned... I WAS HOOKED!

EVERY piece I have came from a thrift store, yard sale or flea market. All were in pretty good shape tho all had some dubious grungy in/on them... it hadda go! When I started accumulating dupes... knew I had a problem. Hadda either STOP collecting or find people who would appreciate them. Gave big skillets to my brother and sister, cuz I KNEW they'd use them and would take good care of them.

Now I REALLY try to restrain myself and old buy stuff I don't already have. Found a big, HEAVY Lodge Dutch oven... no handle and no lid (though have a glass one that fits perfectly. Found a little L "diamond" shaped one... believe it's marked something like "1 egg". Have HEAVY 2 burner grill/griddle... just becasue I wanted it. Another pretty large round griddle that gets used a lot.

Have an Abelskiver (spelling) pan... no markings and another just cuz item.

Today succumbed to temptation and bought TWO Wagner Ware "corn" pans. They're a little rusty, not very crusty at all and got both for less than $3! Already HAD one, so I guess I now have a collection within a collection? One I already had is marked "Junior", "Krusty Korn Kobs", "reg in US Pat 011", Wagner Ware Sidney -0-", Pat July 6, 1920", "1319", and "A" on bottom side of ears. Think the 2 I just bought might be older? They only have markings on 3 of the cobs... Wagner Ware, Made in USA, and C (also on bottom handles).

Would REALLY like to find a chicken "fryer" and/or muffin/pop-over pans. Actually ANYTHING good that I don't already have.

Made a GREAT non-vintage find with a $5 square, LeCreuset grill pan... most expensive piece I own. Blue enamel outside (in PERFECT condition) and plain CI ridges inside.

Know that the main secret to getting a good season on a piece and having a successful cooking experience is USE the stuff.

Anyone else wanna join my "support group"??

[BiscuitBoy]

I have media blasted, and ran my angle grinder with 60 grit on vintage cast iron....I don't care what ANYBODY says, I will not cook in someone else's skeevy funk. What is your heretical method to clean?

[kseiverd]

I used MANY applications of cheap-o, dollar store oven cleaner for your exact reason! I KNOW what went into the nice seasoned surface of my stuff. Don't know WHAT kinda gunk made up what was on cast iron when I got it!?!

[BiscuitBoy]

ooorah, Sister!

[tcamp]

I understand. I have 3 skillets, a dutch oven, a griddle, a round flat thing, I'm about done. I would like a three-legged dutch oven for camping, however. ITA that the main secret to seasoning is to just cook with the damn stuff. The endless threads on various techniques seem rather esoteric....

I find that I am actually becoming a retro cookware fan, whether is it cast iron, pressure cooker, slow cooker, you name it. I guess a side effect of getting older?

[kseiverd]

My Grandmother always used bacon grease! Whenever she had to "wash" a piece of cast iron, it was only HOT water and a scrubber of some sort. Then back onto burner till smoking and a dab of bacon grease. Once cool enough to handel, wiped out of inside and onto outside with paper towels.

[rikkilyns]

I inherited 2 of the Krusty Korn Kobs "Junior" pans that were Grandmother's but had many years of time-out while in my Dad's care. Anybody have the recipe and actual instructions? Really, I gotta put these pans back in use NOW!

[kseiverd]

Just got a tip from another board. Squish a split hotdog down into cornbread batter in pan. Thinking kids would LOVE this... sort of a corn dog, with no frying. Now I need a killer recipe for corn bread!?!

[splatgirl]

try the google machine. I can't recall where, but I've seen some fairly detailed cast iron restoration how-to online

[splatgirl]

Stop hoarding! Leave some good stuff for the rest of us!
I like my old cast iron much better than the new but it's hard to come by around here.
One of these days I'm going to break down and buy one of the old waffle irons.

[kaleokahu]

You obviously need one of these: https://encrypted-tbn1.google.com/ima...

Among other things...

[kseiverd]

WHAT IS THAT?? I want it even before I know!

[kaleokahu]

It's a pancake griddle. You pour the batter in the wells, and when they're ready to flip, you turn them over onto the other side to finish. Cooks same-size cakes and 4 at a time.

See? The addiction can always get worse.