Author Topic: Storing Skillets In The Garage (Read 7618 times)

Norm Koehler · « **on:** December 28, 2009, 09:34:26 AM »

Calling on the experts for advise.

Need to put some Griswold skillets in the garage that have previously been cleaned and seasoned. What is the best way to store them to prevent rust from forming?

Thanks, Norm….

Sam Roberts · « **Reply #1 on:** December 28, 2009, 03:37:25 PM »

Well I'm not a expert, just going with what I'd do. Don't use plastic (e.g. Rubber Main Rough Totes), You need something that will allow SOME air circulation. Good cardboard boxes will work, except don't sit them on a concrete floor, use something like 2X4's underneath the boxes. Pack loosly with some type of paper. Don't think I would use newspaper, cause don't know how the print will interact with the CI. One suggestion, go to your local Newspaper Office for they will often sale end rolls, seems like that would work good. If there is a lot of moisture I would even go as far as putting a LIGHT coat of Mineral Oil on the iron before you pack it away. JMHO

Clark Rader · « **Reply #2 on:** December 28, 2009, 04:11:35 PM »

Mineral oil will not prevent c/i from rusting. IMO. Water and moisture can work through mineral oil, now thats my IMO.
This a good subjest so lets keep talking about it. What do outhers have to say?
clark

Tom Penkava · « **Reply #3 on:** December 28, 2009, 04:15:51 PM »

Sam has some perty good advice there. Here is an old pic of my garage, I have since had to add another row of 5 tier/3 section shelving but don't have recent photos of that. I use bunge cords to keep the lids with the skillet, folded paper towell to allow air flow. Samw with the dotch ovens, folded paper towel to allow air flow. These are stacked on the new shelves under those skillets.

Jesse and Kim Dunfee · « **Reply #4 on:** December 28, 2009, 07:12:13 PM »

JMO....if your skillets are seasoned well then no rust should form. I always liked Perry's method of mineral oil. I will wipe down with mineral oil and lay a paper towel between each skillet Then cardboard box, not plastic tote. Thats what I have done and have had no problems. The seasoning seals the iron and should protect it. But I like the extra step of mineral oil................. :)

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #5 on:** December 28, 2009, 07:31:18 PM »

I boxed a bunch of iron up when I moved five years ago. Then another move two years later, then another move two years later, and all that time I had that iron in cardboard boxes, separated by paper towels, newspapers, rags, whatever, and before I packed it all away, I put mineral oil on every piece. I am still unpacking that iron and am very pleased with the way the iron looks as I unpack it. The iron that was cleaned, I put mineral oil on it, the iron that was not cleaned I put mineral oil on it.

The only thing that I found thus far is a speck of rust in the word "griswold", down in the depression, and I think that got there because I did not take the care to get mineral oil in the depression. So I am very pleased and in my opinion mineral oil does prevent rust. This is the results of my field test, based on five years of results, so I will say that I know mineral oil is good for five years. ;)

Jeff Seago · « **Reply #6 on:** December 28, 2009, 08:33:18 PM »

Is your garage heated or unheated?? I am assuming unheated but I guess it does not hurt to ask??

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #7 on:** December 28, 2009, 09:28:06 PM »

Quote

Is your garage heated or unheated?? I am assuming unheated but I guess it does not hurt to ask??

Thats a good question. During this entire period of time, it was in the house, in a heated area. No garage storage at all.

carpenter · « **Reply #8 on:** December 28, 2009, 09:43:17 PM »

I had most of mine in an unheated garage wraped in newspaper in banana boxes for about a year and when I unpacked it it was the same as when I put it there. No adverse effects that I could tell.

Joe

Chris Stairs · « **Reply #9 on:** December 29, 2009, 03:37:22 AM »

  Heated or unheated, the real issue is how much and how quickly the temperature changes from night to day. Condensation will be the problem. If the iron gets quite cold at night (in the 30 to 40 degree range). In the morning the air temperature can quickly rise but the iron, holding in its cold for much longer than the surrounding air, will get condensation on it and that's what causes the rust. (and fogs my eyeglasses when I come in from the cold)
  Even unheated, the garage may help even out or slow the temperature swing, and wrapping with newspaper will help too. I would check on it from time to time, to see if there's any moisture in the mornings.

Duke Gilleland · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2009, 04:58:08 AM »

Pretty much ditto on what Chris just posted.

C. B. Williams · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2009, 07:40:13 AM »

The higher the humidity, the closer the dew point is to the temperature. In this area, the southeast, I often see the dew point the same as the temperature. (100% relative humidity) Any time an item is lower than the dew point there will be condensation to collect on it, or when water vapor in the air condenses into liquid water, or dew on a leaf of grass when it is below the dew point.
In this area, storing something that is subject to rust in an un-conditioned place is just not not the wise thing to do.

Greg Stahl · « **Reply #12 on:** December 29, 2009, 01:34:24 PM »

Yeap, it is the condensation that will be your enemy. if you can control that you'll be fine

Jesse and Kim Dunfee · « **Reply #13 on:** December 29, 2009, 05:50:53 PM »

Move If off Subject..........I clean and season every piece of iron I get. I DO wipe it down with mineral oil but wouldn't the seasoning itself protect the iron? I would think that if its seasoned pack it and forget it. Am I way off here? :-?

Chris Stairs · « **Reply #14 on:** December 29, 2009, 06:02:31 PM »

Jesse,
I think even with the best seasoning that direct contact with moisture will cause problems eventually.
Would you leave one of your pans soaking in the sink for a few days? Then hang it it up without even wiping it off?
Months of storage with dew every morning would be even worse.

Jeff Seago · « **Reply #15 on:** December 29, 2009, 06:11:09 PM »

What if you filled up a 55 gallon drum and filled it with lye water?? You would never have to worry about it rusting would you?? I know this sounds like my typical sarcasm but it is a serious question.

I would think that the best way to store them would be hanging from the ceiling just like Tom has them. That would allow all of the moisture that might develop to drip off and you could constantly monitor them for rust and just wipe them down with oil when you noticed a problem??

Chris Stairs · « **Reply #16 on:** December 29, 2009, 06:21:46 PM »

Quote

What if you filled up a 55 gallon drum and filled it with lye water?? You would never have to worry about it rusting would you?? I know this sounds like my typical sarcasm but it is a serious question.

I would think that the best way to store them would be hanging from the ceiling just like Tom has them. That would allow all of the moisture that might develop to drip off and you could constantly monitor them for rust and just wipe them down with oil when you noticed a problem??

Jeff,
  You could store them in a lye bath with no danger of rust. Just have to season them as they are removed because no seasoning would remain.
  Like C.B.said, the moisture content of the air in your area determines if condensation will be a problem. That and the fluctuation between day and night temps.
  What works for Tom Penkava in Loveland, Colorado may not work for me here, north of Maine.

Chris

Greg Stahl · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2009, 07:48:00 PM »

I have left items in my old lye bath that I forgot about (I believe there is a post on here about it, found a #50 Heart and Star and other goodies) for months and even had the bath freeze in my basement. They come out perfect, just season and away you go. That was a fun day finding all that iron that I forgot about in the bottom.

Prairie_Gal · « **Reply #18 on:** December 30, 2009, 11:21:38 AM »

Quote

I have left items in my old lye bath that I forgot about (I believe there is a post on here about it, found a #50 Heart and Star and other goodies) for months and even had the bath freeze in my basement. They come out perfect, just season and away you go. That was a fun day finding all that iron that I forgot about in the bottom.

But it's annoying when you intended to give that nice little set of #8 iron mountain skillet and lid as a Christmas present, but couldn't get them out of the frozen block of lye to season.

I guess they'll be Easter gifts. ;D

Ryan Ellington · « **Reply #19 on:** December 30, 2009, 07:27:40 PM »

would a dehumidifier work if you put that in the garge?

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Author Topic: Storing Skillets In The Garage (Read 7618 times)

carpenter

Prairie_Gal