seasoning miscelanious items ??

[Glenn Springer]

Does anyone season miscelanious items ?
The matchholder looked like it had some seasoning left on it so I cleaned it and tried to season it, didn't work to good. The places where the metal pieces come together weren't wiped good enough and made those dark stains like you get when there is a pinhole holding seasoning oil on a skillet. The ice shaver looks like it has some old seasoning on it but why season an ice shaver? What do you guys do?

[Russell Ware]

Use mineral oil.

[Glenn Springer]

Do you clean them then just wipe it on cold?

[Glenn Springer]

Forgot to also ask why they look like there is old black seasoning on them.

[Jeff Friend]

Glenn,

I would bet that you ice shave was japanned.  Griswold japanned a lot of items, such as waffle iron frames, spittoons, and tobacco cutters.

Jeff

[Glenn Springer]

Would japanned come off with a steel wool scrubbing, if so when you get a japanned item how do you preserve it? I have a mailbox that may have been japanned and havn't touched it yet because I don't know what to do with it either.

[Jeff Friend]

Since it is a coating similar to paint, steel wool will scrub it off, especially if it is no longer bonded to the surface of the cast iron.  If the japanning is in bad condition, you can remove it and apply a new coating.  The plane collectors (think Stanley) are faced with the decision of preserving or recoating.

If the ice shave in your photo was mine, I would probably remove all of the japanning and start over.  It looks like it is in rough shape.

[Russell Ware]

Glenn, a lye bath will also remove japan finish, so you won't have too much scrubbing. I've used it for a sad iron that didn't have too much of the original finish left. Some people warm the piece in the oven before applying mineral oil. For me, it depends on the size and type of the piece. I wouldn't worry about it for the pieces you have in the photos.

[Cheryl Watson]

I just WISH that the lye bath removed all the Japanning I've come across... sometimes it does, sometimes 'not'....  <and I run double strength lye>.

I luv my Zip Strip...  sure makes it easier.. :) :)

[Russell Ware]

Japan finish is kind of like Lodge's factory seasoning. Some times it comes right off, easily. Other times, you're lye soaking and scrubbing, lye soaking and scrubbing, electro and scrubbing - is this ever gonna end?

[Glenn Springer]

Thanks for the tips!!!
How do you apply a new jappaned coating?

[Jeff Friend]

Glenn,

For just a few pieces, you might use gloss black spray paint.  Authentic japanning starts with a mixture of asphaltum, turpentine, rosin, and lead oxide.  The mixture is carefully boiled to get a pourable consistency.  It is applied with a brush, allowed to dry, and finally "stoved" or baked in an oven.  Your kitchen will smell like an asphalt plant during the baking process.

If you spend some time on the internet, you will find some recipes and stoving procedures.

Jeff