Electro set up Question

[Duke Gilleland]

I see that you connect directly to the iron with your ground wire. You might consider using a "jumper" wire to make the connection. I use a solid/stiff piece of romex (12") and a small C clamp to attach to the iron. That way I can keep my ground wire connection out of the soup.

[Mark Zizzi]

This makes me wonder why more people don't use a fairly cheap power supply instead of an expensive battery charger.
Are there any disadvantages to using a power supply?

[Cheryl Watson]

Because I do not have a degree in Electrical Engineering... ;D ;D

[Mark Zizzi]

Lol, neither do I Cheryl, trust me.  But I think this could be a possible sticky thread if there are no serious drawbacks to it. 20-40 bucks for a new power supply..used probably half that..vs 100+ for a good charger.

[Cheryl Watson]

We have other threads on this issue.  I recovered one from the Old Forum, there may be others.

Check the Best Thread sticky........ ;)

[Robert Hynes]

This makes me wonder why more people don't use a fairly cheap power supply instead of an expensive battery charger.
Are there any disadvantages to using a power supply?

No disadvantages that I can see yet. In practice, all you need is a 12V DC source that can produce a good dose of sustained amperage. There's many sources out there for old 12V supplies - ham radios, old stereos I believe...

Old lodge nearly finished, cleaned with the pc power supply.

[Robert Hynes]

Another tip as well... The no name "Great Value" heavy duty oven cleaner works far faster and better than the branded ones. There are times where electro just won't take some of the stuff off.

[Cheryl Watson]

[size=12]That is why we use Lye Baths.

Not all Oven Cleaners are the same.

You want an Oven Cleaner that contains Sodium Hydroxide.

Not all of them do.........
[/size]

[Robert Hynes]

[size=12]That is why we use Lye Baths.

Not all Oven Cleaners are the same.

You want an Oven Cleaner that contains Sodium Hydroxide.

Not all of them do.........
[/size]

I learned something new today, not all oven cleaners are equal  :)

I don't want to go through setting up a lye bath anytime soon, oven cleaner works for what I do at the moment. If I ever find a large collection, great.

[Cheryl Watson]

[size=12]A lye bath will last a long, long, time and is MUCH cheaper than oven cleaner. [/size]  :)

[Robert Hynes]

I want the relationship with the girlfriend to last a long, long time too so I better not introduce more. I've hijacked her garage (and her oven, and her tables, and her...) for the cast iron endeavors as I live in a condo, don't want to push too hard :)

Fortunately, she loves my cooking.

[Mark Zizzi]

Love me, love my lye bath...lol

Cheryl's right, Robert. A rubbermaid tub, a can of lye and some water will clean a LOT of iron..and less messy than a garbage bag full of oven cleaner, I would think.

[Robert Hynes]

I don't have alot of cast to clean, that's the problem with living around here, there's not much around. Only 2 small skillets left to clean. I only use oven cleaner now to finish what the electro tank doesn't take off. There's always one or two tough spots.

We're going on a road trip in a couple of weeks, hunting for cast is a part of it. If i can get my hands on lots of pieces (not holding my breath), lye tank will be in order.

[Mark Zizzi]

Well good luck hunting. If you find some I would start with the lye bath and if there's no rust you can skip the electro.