Enameled Dutch Oven Lids

[wwilderaz]

I am a newcomer to cast iron collecting and wondering about the enameled insides of lids for Griswold dutch ovens...are such common?...Any suggestions on cleaning since I do need to remove rust from the outside of the lid?...Also I see references to different enamel colors although the only ones I have seen are a dark grey/blue color...Thanks for any comments...

[Jerry Cermack]

Bill,
The coating you see on the underside of lids was called "Clean Easy" or Easy Clean coating by Griswold....it is fairly common to see....I'm sure someone can give you more info than I can on it

[Steve_Stephens]

I always have to look it up to remember, but "Clean Easy" is correct.  Only offered in black (actually a greyish black and especially so when etched some) the porcelain coating was standard on dutch ovens only beginning in the early 1930's and continuing for some time; maybe into the 50's but I am not sure.  It was also offered on the smooth and hammered dutch ovens and was optionally offered on the No.8 sized only hinged skillet covers in the late 30's.  So, in the 1930's the porcelain was common and probably was standard on all d.o.'s.

As far as cleaning goes I would recommend that you do not use lye on the porcelain surface as my experiences "seem" to indicate that the lye etches the surface of the porcelain making it rougher and lighter grey.  Not worth taking a chance.  Fortunately the covers will float upside down in a lye bath if you gently lower the cover on top of the bath carefully.  No problem getting lye on the porcelain but don't let it sit for long without washing off.  Otherwise I see not special precautions you would need to use.  Maybe lye or oven cleaner can be used for a short time to clean off any baked on grease from the porcelain but, again, may not be worth the possible risk to try that.  Oh, and don't wire brush the porcelain.
Steve

[Paul Beer]

Steve, what do you think about using the oven clean cycle on this item...is it too much heat? Paul

[Paul Beer]

Also as Bill is dealing with rust, what effect would the vinegar bath have on the clean easy surface?

[Steve_Stephens]

I'm not sure about the self-cleaning oven.  I'd think it would be ok since the interior of ovens is porcelainized.  But oven cleaner also is used on ovens with (usually?) no detrimental effect.  Maybe porcelains are not all alike but some are formulated or fired to resist higher temperatures.  Not sure that I would want to chance harming a piece without knowing for sure.  

I do know that I have had Clean Easy covers that have had a very dull greyish porcelain on them and I may have caused that myself from either self-cleaning oven exposure or lye exposure.  It was years ago so I just don't know.  I'd play it on the safe side without knowing more details and stay away from both methods of cleaning.  Maybe oven cleaner for a short time (half hour?) might be ok.

Vinegar on porcelain?  I don't know.  Again, you might test by putting a very small drop in a spot and seeing if is does any harm.  I always use a bench grinder with a 6" wire wheel for removing rust and it does it pretty fast, complete, and without any harm if done with care.    Some experience here is helpful.  I'll bring my wire wheel to the WAGS convention for a demo.   For heavier, scaly rust I use a putty knife, old screw driver or old chisel that I use for this purpose.
Steve

[Paul Beer]

Steve, I use the vinegar bath a lot and it works wonders and is sure a lot easier on the iron than all the banging and chipping...I then use the brass wire wheel to do a final burnish or clean up. The vinegar ( 50% white and water) gets to all the cracks and crannies and really works on the hard rust. I wouldn't think it should hurt the enamel but havent dealt with that before..Paul

[Greg Stahl]

Didn't I just see an Ebay auction that claims to have "clean easy" in a blue color??

[wwilderaz]

Greg...you did...check out ebay #750378806...This what prompted my inquirt earlier today...Bill

[Steve_Stephens]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=750378806

Looks more grey than blue to me and not far from what many pieces I have seen look like.  In fact, a lot of the Clean Easy finishes have quite a greyish color or cast.  Is that from aging or etching, etc. or was that the color when new?  I have a 30's Griswold d.o. that is unused (not unused like so many ebayers claim but REALLY unusued).  The porcelain on it is a grey-brown-black so, when new, the Easy Clean porcelain was probably never jet-black.  It can appear quite grey when used a lot and is etched to a duller sheen.
Steve

[Bob Logan]

My experiences with enameled dutch oven covers and lye have not been good. I had a really dirty Griswold #7 cover and put it in the lye tank for about 4 days. The enamel on the inside turned this really weird color and got very rough. I had to get rid of that lid.

What I do now is to lay a towel down and spray the outside of the lid with a nice heavy coat of oven cleaner. I then cover it with a box or a large bucket so the oven cleaner doesn't dry out. Every couple of days I put another coat of oven cleaner on. After 4-5 days I clean it in the sink just like normal. This works very well and keep the inside enameled surface from the lye.

I also would not use vinegar. Again vinegar is an acid and will eat away at the enamel just like it eats away at the iron.

Bob

[Jerry Cermack]

I'm curious as to other opinions on this?....If lye, or other cleaners wont hurt porcelain coated sinks, tubs, etc, then why would it hurt skillets or lids?...

is the coating on a skillet or lid different than plumbing fixtures?...like cast iron sinks and tubs?.....I have no idea?

I've used lye on many red  skillets and never phased it that I'm aware of?....

[Steve_Stephens]

I would like to know too Jerry.  Bob's experiences are the same as I remember with my covers in lye getting rough.  Maybe the porcelain used on the covers is of a different quality or is fired at a lower temperature than on bath fixtures.  Also, the later red/cream porcelain, etc. may be fired higher or be of a different quality.  I really don't have any answers other than to avoid doing the unknown.
Bob, did you seem my mention of floating the covers upside down in lye?  Works super easy and the covers float right near the rim so the entire top surface is cleaned.  Put your fingers INSIDE the cover and lower it gently into the lye.  Just when you think it is about to sink, it will float.  If is drops into the lye just rinse it off and try again.  I have not had a cover that did not float.
Steve