Removal of Chrome?

[Rob McCoy]

I just bought a Griswold no 8 Skillet locally for $15 which I believe to be a Du Chro one. The pictures may make it tough to see but the handle (top side) is shiny as well the the top of the brim around pan. The rest is a matte color. The Chrome is coming off the cooking surface and I am not sure if its safe to cook with it like that?

Should I remove all the chrome or just the cooking area or leave it?

If I should remove it then how should I (apartment dweller) go about it without ruining the pan?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

P.S. I tried using search function and did not find anything so hopefully this has not been brought up before.

[Russell Ware]

Rob, general consensus around here seems to say de-plating a piece at home is not possible, but I do recall a post here about finding a plating company to de-plate it for you. The problem is, you'll probably spend more than the item is worth (unless it is a truly rare piece). Chromed pieces really need to be in perfect shape to fetch a good price. I don't recall seeing a piece that has the actual cooking surface chromed. All the chrome and nickel pieces I've seen still had a cast iron cooking surface.

[Rob McCoy]

Russell,

Thanks for the info. I do have a few emails out for quotes locally for de-plating and also to a few places to see if they can sandblast it.

So if I leave it as is then I should still be able to cook with it without issue right?

Ultimately I just want this pan for cooking with and the plating that is left on the cooking surface is bugging me since I will have a partly chromed partly seasoned cooking surface.

[Sandy Glenn]

FYI sandblasting will totally ruin it.  Don't do it.

Look around this board and you'll find plenty of threads showing what happens when CI is sand or bead blasted.

[Rob McCoy]

Thanks Sandy.

So am I assuming right then that my only options are to pay a lot of money to strip it (got a quote of $175 to re-chrome it) the right way or I could try sandpaper?

Other then those options then I just use it as is?

I just used the skillet for the first time to make pizza in it and OMG best pizza I ever made at home!

[Russell Ware]

Rob, I tell everyone to bake pizza in cast iron if they want the best crust.
Talking about sand blasting of throwing cast iron in a fire to clean it will get you a lot of frowns around here real fast. Neither are prudent ways to restore cast iron.
You might have better results with your pan just using it for baking. Not sure how evenly it will fry with a combination of chrome plating and iron on the cooking surface.

[Sandy Glenn]

So am I assuming right then that my only options are to pay a lot of money to strip it (got a quote of $175 to re-chrome it) the right way or I could try sandpaper?

Well Rob I'm not the most adventurous person when it comes to cast iron.  I wouldn't pay big $$$ to have it replated, and I wouldn't use sandpaper on it.

I have a couple users in the same shape, and they work just fine.  They do everything black iron pieces do... they just aren't as pretty.

Were I you, I would clean and season the skillet and use it as is.  If the "not pretty" factor bothers you, replace it with either a black iron skillet or one with the plating completely intact.

[Greg Stahl]

$175 for a chrome replate #8?  Give me the $175 and I'll send you a perfect plated #8 skillet. 

IMO, it is a waste of good money.  I would just use it or sell it and get a black cast iron one for $20-30.

[Rob McCoy]

Thanks everyone for all your input. That's why I wanted to ask you all before I did anything rash.

I will just continue to season and use it and I am sure over time if I use a metal spatula it will naturally take off the remaining chrome on the cooking surface in due time.

I already have 2 more pans on the way too me and a Griswold Ashtray.

I have already decided that I am going to be asking family if they have any they don't want to try and save myself some money with this addiction!

Speaking of which I asked a co-worker the other day and she said that her brother threw out a complete set of their fathers. I asked what was wrong with them and she said they were rusty! I told her that was a huge mistake and if she ever knows anyone else who is going to throw away rusty cast iron to let me know!

[Thomas Oen]

Rob, I have taken numerous pieces to a plating company in Portland IN for myself and other members and had good results. They charge $10.00 per piece. If you can find a plating company close,check them out It would be a lot cheaper to remove the plating than to replate it.   Tom

[Jim Glatthaar]

Rob, I recall an old forum thread about the safety issue.  One person said his Grandmother cooked with chrome & nickel plated iron for many years and lived to a ripe old age. 

[Gary Salsman]

I have also taken pieces to a replating shop. $10  to remove the plating. They have to remove all the plating of the pieces they are replating in order to replate. The replate cost is expensive because of all the steps required to replate. I found a small shop that specialized in street rod and motorcycle parts.

[Chuck Rogers]

As Gary and Tom mentioned above, I've found a place for deplating. I'll be taking my first batch there this weekend. Same price. $10.00 to deplate. Be sure to explain to them that you want deplating, and not some sandblasting to remove the plating.