W I Base

[Chuck Rogers]

This is a first for me. I've electroed a japaned high WI base, and not all of it came off. It was in a total of 3 days. The tank is working fine, but it's not all coming off. My question is, Will a round in a self cleaning oven get it off? Thanks in advance

[Jeff Seago]

Chuck I don't know about the oven but whenever I have a japaned item that I want clean I just use paint stripper on it and it works just fine with no harm to the iron  :-/ :-/

[Robert Hilman]

I don't think the oven will do anything. Had to strip a piece for my sister. Used lie and it took it right off.

[Chuck Rogers]

I do have paint stripper. I'll have to try it. Thanks guys. Saved me wasting time with the oven.

[Rick Gilley]

Interesting post, let me ask this. I have had a "WAGNER" skillet in the lye barrel for two or three weeks. I took it out yesterday and it seems like the entire skillet is covered with something black. Its hard "rubbery" in texture. I can take a wire grinder and work really, really hard and it comes off but the entire skillet is covered with it. Do you think this skillet was japaned? You can tell it was originally like this, and its not something someone sprayed on.

[Jeff Seago]

Well Rick I have never heard of a skillet being japaned but then I am far from an expert??  I have had several that had black stuff on them that was nearly impossible to get off but I never paid attention to what it was so I can't tell you for sure.

[John_D]

Dont know if this has anything to do with this but I have found some pans that were in a house fire that had rubber like gunk on them after trying to clean, Dont know if its plastic or something else. I got most of it off with a wire wheel. j

[fatfutures]

I've run across a few pieces that were "coated" the way Rick described. I've always suspected that some "well meaning soul" actually painted the piece right over the layer of GUNK. I further believe that at some point after painting, some OTHER "well meaning soul" heated the piece. Thus turning the gunk and paint into some type of indestructible substance that NASA and the US military should be made aware of... LOL

All jokes aside, I do believe that paint on top of the gunk is what I've encountered. And, I really do believe that it had been heated after painting. Electro doesn't do much to this stuff. Wire wheel and razor blades and LOTS of patience is all that's worked for me. But, I've never gone with a chemical removal route... might work.

Chuck, you let us know if that paint stripper works.

[Rick Gilley]

thanks all...I believe Michelle nailed it....she described it perfectly.

[Chuck Rogers]

Well, I thought I had some paint stripper here, but what I have is a can of dried up something. I'll have to get to the hardware store for some, and giv it a shot. I'll keep ya'll posted

[Dwayne Henson]

I have had problems like the one discribed with a pan that had been used with only Pam it's whole life.  That stuff was Toouuugh!

[Tom Meinke]

I use the self cleaning oven to clean my iron and it will remove the japanning.

[fume_happy]

Just out of curiosity, won't the paint stripper soak into the Iron?

[Jeff Friend]

Paint stripper won't soak into the iron.  It is a common misconception that cast iron is porous.  It is not, but there can be a "profile" to the surface from rust or other treatment.  

I have cleaned a few painted pieces and I think some paints are pretty resistant to dilute caustic soda solutions.  I can soak 'em for weeks and the paint gets a little soft, but doesn't come off.  I'd suggest good paint stripper on japanning, rather than the self-cleaning oven method.  A japanned coating is usually pretty thick and may really smoke up the house.  Since linseed oil is the base for japan, any old stripper should work well.  Give the piece a good washing to get all the paint off, then put it in the electro for a while.  That should get all of the solvents off the iron.