First time Wagner owner. First time restoration attempt. Help welcome

[Joseph Redden]

I picked this Wagner up the other day and was hoping someone could tell what vintage this pan is and if it is worth the efforts to restore?
I have never restored before and wonder if a lye bath would do the trick? I appreciate any help on the matter.

[Russell Ware]

The photo files are rather small, so they don't enlarge well (at least for my eyes). The skillet looks like a post 1970's GHC made Wagner, judging from what is written in the bottom, but the cooking surface is ground, so I would still say it is worth restoring. It will make a good user skillet.

[Duke Gilleland]

Not a collector, but from pics, should clean up and make a great user [smiley=thumbsup.gif] [smiley=1076.gif]

[Jeff Friend]

Joseph,

Welcome to WAGS.

A long soak in lye should loosen up most of the crud inside that skillet.  You might still have a lot of scrubbing to do, but as Russell pointed out, the surface of the skillet was ground, so it might make a good user.  That is unless it is badly warped and you have a ceramic cook top stove.

The lye won't do a thing for the rust, but if the rust isn't bad, try scrubbing with a little vinegar after the lye bath.  I think you'll be able to get a good layer of seasoning on it.

Good luck!

Jeff

[Joseph Redden]

After 3 weeks in lye bath I pulled it out and the crud just came off. A bit of scrubbing and vinegar to rid the rust and I'm really impressed. It's a worthy pan of some seasoning and then ready to be put to work.
Thanks again folks for the help and recommendations.

[Valerie Johnson]

Nicely done, Looks like a nice user, Unlike some of the other manufacturers Wagner(GHC) retained the nice wide pour spouts and ground finish(on some) of their skillets.

And while it may not be considered a collector piece now somewhere down the road it may likely be as it is all part of the chain of progression of Wagner Ware Cast Iron Hollow Ware and it does at least have the Wagner Ware name on it.

[John Arsenault]

Great job, Joseph. Get some seasoning going and put it back to work. ;)
John A

[Jim Glatthaar]

Well done, Joseph.  Valerie makes an excellent point.  Who knows what future collectors may value.  Anything with a Wagner name?  Certainly possible. ;)

[Joseph Redden]

I finished it off with Tom Penkava's seasoning method and tried it out this morning for breakfast. Ol' Waggy is the gem I've been looking for.

[Cheryl Watson]

I use a Newer unmarked Wagner #12 as my Bacon Skillet!

(My other #12 and #14 skillets are a bit too pricey for an everyday user.. :) )

[Sandy Glenn]

I finished it off with Tom Penkava's seasoning method

Smart move.  Tom has seasoned a ton of CI and certainly knows what he's doing.  Your new skillet looks fantastic!

[Jim Glatthaar]

Even after all this time I think it is great when one of these skillets gets restored and re-used.  One of the reasons I cook with a lot of my vintage pieces is that these babies love to be cooked in.  The way I see it I am helping them achieve their life's ambition.