Author Topic: Neat New Cleaning Tool I Just Picked Up (Read 4557 times)

Tom Neitzel · « **on:** January 29, 2015, 12:02:05 AM »

Just added another must have tool to my cleaning tool box. A Lodge Silicone Pot Holder.

I'll tell you what I used it for and how it solved a problem in a few minutes I've been fussing with for about 2 months tomorrow.

And it has nothing to do with heat or cooking. Didn't even need safety glasses.

Tom

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #1 on:** January 29, 2015, 01:46:53 AM »

I'll tell you what I used it for and how it solved a problem in a few minutes I've been fussing with for about 2 months tomorrow.

Alright Tom. You have aroused my nosiness. I'm anxious to hear about your new cleaning tool. :)

Mark Zizzi · « **Reply #2 on:** January 29, 2015, 08:19:57 AM »

I'll take a wild guess that it has something to do with electrolysis? :)

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:15:50 AM »

I got a good buy on a Stover wafer iron just after Thanksgiving. Looked just spectacular in the pictures. When I got it I found that somebody had painted it black (with a brush).

No problem I figured. I knew that the Stover handles are just pressed onto a smooth shaft. Just wiggle them and they come off. Toss the iron in the lye or oven, and it's just fine.

Well that worked for one of them. But I could not budge the other. I've also learned to never really force anything. So I would pick it up, grab both pieces and try to wiggle it loose. No luck. I couldn't hold the handle tight enough.

Tried lightly tapping the handle with a plastic mallet. Tried wedging a stout knife between the collar and handle. Tried heating the wood a little with a hair dryer. Nothing worked. Even tried a strap wrench (sample picture attached) but it would not grab the handle. I left it near my computer so I could try it every few days. Never loosened up.

I figured I would have to carefully suspend most of the iron in a lye bath to get it to work, but I really didn't want to.

I was looking at a Lodge display in the store and felt the Silicone Potholder. Might it let me tightly grip the handle and work it off, I thought?

It did. It held on like glue and I could finally work the handle just a little bit from side to side. Continued that for about 15 minutes, moving just a little at a time. It came off.

Iron is in the oven now just touching up after the lye popped off the paint. Looks to be in great shape. I do have some work to clean the paint off the handles but that's not hard.

So, if you need to grab something and not mar it, this little pot holder works fine and you are supporting the cast iron industry in the US.

One picture shows a handle on an iron and the shaft it is on.

Another shows the pot holder wrapped on the handle and me twisting and pulling, all fairly gently.

Last is a strap wrench picture. Great for oil filters on cars and plumbing fixtures.

Tom

Mark Zizzi · « **Reply #4 on:** January 29, 2015, 10:35:39 AM »

Guess it wasn't electrolysis. I'm curious Tom, what store did you see the Lodge display? I've never see any.

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #5 on:** January 29, 2015, 11:15:33 AM »

It's a local store called Sunbird. Almost like an old-time General Store. Clothing, shoes, garden supplies, sporting goods, camping, guns, ammo, hardware (paint, electrical, plumbing, automotive), cookware.

http://sunbirdshoppingcenter.com/about-us/

They've got two locations. Not a big box, you just see 4 or 5 employees at the most. Amazing that they survive with Wallmart just a mile away, but they do. Wallmart doesn't give free popcorn.

I'll take a picture of the display sometime. They have Camp Chef too.

About the only thing they are missing is the pot bellied stove to sit and BS around. You have to stand around and BS, but it works just the same.

The local Kroger stores (Fred Meyer in my area) have Lodge displays too. A little more limited. Enamel dutch ovens, common skillet sizes and some serving pieces. Good discounts from time to time. They had the pretty enamel DO, 6 qt. for $50 around Christmas.

Tom

Mark Zizzi · « **Reply #6 on:** January 29, 2015, 11:22:20 AM »

Sounds like a great store. There used to be several like that around me...not anymore. :'(

Sandy Glenn · « **Reply #7 on:** January 29, 2015, 12:19:22 PM »

I can see why the strap wrench wouldn't work... handy tool but limited.

I keep a Lodge silicone pot holder in my kitchen utensil drawer. It works like a charm opening jars where the lids have been machine-tightened (think new jar of mayonnaise).

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2015, 01:43:16 AM »

Tom them things look like a hot tip. I used to almost be able to crush walnuts with the strength in my hands. Very often I'd go to visit my mom and she would have a jar of something setting out for me to open. My little boys would think I was Superman.

But you lose a lot of strength in your hands as you grow older so I think I'm gonna get me some of them things. Sandy has a good idea of using them.

I like that store atmosphere you talk about also Tom. You can't sit around and shoot the BS but you can stand around and shoot the BS and it works just as good. ;D

If you're a hillbilly or a Southern person, whatever you wanna call it, you ain't never without a seat. I've seen my father squat down real low with his cheeks resting on his heels with his arms up around his knees, maybe one at a time or both, just rotating them. I have seen him sit like that for hours. :o

OH, yes, so my point is he was never without a seat. He learned that working in a coal mine.

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2015, 10:53:31 AM »

Perry, if I sat down like that today, they'd have to get the paramedics to get me up again. ;D

I'm glad Sandy did mention the jar lids. I'm at that same place. Used to be able to open anything. Now, a little helper tool is appreciated.

So, I got a twofer.

Tom

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2015, 10:34:06 AM »

Here's some pictures of the store and the display. Think they've done a good job for a small store.

Sandy Glenn · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2015, 11:50:13 AM »

Very nice! It's great to see a good representation of Lodge products. Kudos to them... wish there were a Sunbird in my area.

Sandy Glenn · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2015, 10:52:14 PM »

Found a new use for the Lodge silicone pot holder. Slide it between your cutting board and countertop... keeps the board from waltzing around while you're using it, especially if you're using a cheap cheesy non-wood (poly) board.

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #13 on:** March 06, 2015, 09:53:08 AM »

Quote

Found a new use for the Lodge silicone pot holder. Slide it between your cutting board and countertop... keeps the board from waltzing around while you're using it, especially if you're using a cheap cheesy non-wood (poly) board.

I like that.

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #14 on:** March 06, 2015, 10:03:39 AM »

Now, I'm going to post a bunch of photos of what I did with those handles once I got them off. Most likely should be in a new thread, but it seems to make sense right now to be here.

Remember, the whole iron was painted black with a brush >:(

Once the handles were off, the cast iron went through the self-cleaning oven, then a quick Evaporust cleanup. They were in real good shape before I started so they came out very nice without much effort.

The handles have a steel collar that keeps them from splitting. Sometimes they will just slide off. No luck with mine. I twisted, pulled, even pried with an awl a little but no luck.

I finally took a stout, sharp knife and carefully pried between the collar and handle. I'll emphasize that it was VERY carefully! :).

Success, the little devils started to move ever so slightly. I finally worked them off without damage to any parts.

Into the lye for a short soak to get the paint off, then an Evaporust bath for the collars.

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #15 on:** March 06, 2015, 10:13:55 AM »

So here they are after the Evaporust.

I've still got the wood to get the paint off of. I really didn't want to strip it in the lye as it will raise the grain and I'd have to do a bit of sanding to get it back.

I assumed the paint was latex. Did a Google search and found that isopropyl alchohol is supposed to remove dried latex paint. Didn't do anything except clean off some dirt.

Then I found that acetone and xylene should remove it. So off to the paint store. Couldn't find xylene, but did find Goof Off that happened to be a mixture of acetone and xylene.

I cleaned the handles a bit more, flattened and dulled the paint, but it didn't seem to remove it for me. Again, I didn't want to do a bunch of refinishing work.

The surface seemed good enough to repaint so I looked around and found my can of Duplicolor Gloss Black high temp automotive engine paint (a Cadillac color for those that might wonder ;)).

Sprayed it on and they came out just great. A nice smooth gloss that is tough and has some depth to it. Looks very much like an old enamel paint job.

You will note that I didn't paint the area the collars fit on. They fit tight - any paint would have made them very difficult to put back on.

Some more pictures, then some of the finished iron and some handles that are unrestored to compare.

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #16 on:** March 06, 2015, 10:16:50 AM »

Here are the handles on the iron and my HSB version with handles that are unrestored and are staying that way.

(I had a terrible time photographic the glossy handles. They look far better in person.)

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #17 on:** March 06, 2015, 10:19:18 AM »

Here's the finished iron for those that might be interested.

Tom

Jim Fuchs · « **Reply #18 on:** March 06, 2015, 12:15:58 PM »

Nice job ! Like the progressive pictures, showing each step. Turned out wonderful, Tom. I have a project coming up, and am going to use Evaporust. Thanks for posting these.

Mark Zizzi · « **Reply #19 on:** March 06, 2015, 02:16:09 PM »

That came out very nice, Tom. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

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Author Topic: Neat New Cleaning Tool I Just Picked Up (Read 4557 times)