Author Topic: Long Term Storage (Read 10358 times)

Jeff Thornton · « **on:** January 20, 2015, 10:59:58 AM »

I have tried searching for recommendations but have been unsuccesful, so thought I would go ahead and ask. I have several skillets I need to put into long-term storage for my kids. SWMBO insists they can't all stay in the kitchen, so what would be the best way to treat and store these? My storage building IS NOT temperature or climate controlled, in any way.
Thanks in advance.

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2015, 04:37:41 PM »

Hello. I don't know what SWIMBO means just exactly. But on storing your cast iron. Thats really a tough call. If you put them in an uncontrolled environment I guess you know you are inviting trouble.

If it was me I'd soak them down real good in mineral oil and wrap them in newspaper. Thats about the best way that I know how, short of having a controlled environment to store them in. The trouble is moisture. And they will draw moisture and sweat inviting rust. So the best preventive that I can think of is mineral oil. Unless you did not have that many pieces to speak of. If thats the case, depending on how hard core you are at wanting to store them real good. Put them in a barrel tight together and cover them with mineral. So they will be submerged in it. That will keep them beautifully. Good luck to you. :)

Jeff Thornton · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2015, 05:24:26 PM »

Thanks for the follow up. SWMBO = She Who Must Be Obeyed, aka , my wife.

I want to store them as safely as I can because some of them belonged to my mom, grandmother, and other family members. I just dont have access to climate controlled. Will need to put some heavy thought into this.

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2015, 09:15:58 AM »

Many military firearms, knives, bayonets and other items that would have a tendency to rust are coated with Cosmoline, I have purchased firearms that have been in storage in a arsenal for 50-100 years and they show no signs of rust on the metal parts or mildew on the wood stocks,handles and scabbard, mildew happens to wood when stored incorrectly.
Cosmoline is relatively inexpensive and available online, It will take a little cleaning to get it off but if you are storing in a non climate controlled area that is subject to temperature and humidity changes then it is worth the trouble

Mark Zizzi · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2015, 11:36:11 AM »

I don't know whats in cosmoline, but I wouldn't want the solvents needed to remove it on my cast iron cookware. :-/

Perry, I've used SWMBO before ...you forgot already, ha. ;D

Jeff, you said they can't stay in the kitchen, but isn't there ANYWHERE in your house you could store them? Do you have a basement? And how long are we talking here...5 yrs 10 yrs 20 yrs?

C. B. Williams · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2015, 02:24:11 PM »

Just a thought. I think vacuum sealing on the smaller pieces would probably work well. And you might have access to a large machine that would do larger pieces. Never tried it. C B

James Wilson · « **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2015, 03:01:53 PM »

The way I see it you have two options Jeff, one is to exchange SWMBO or find a proper (read cheap and reliable) protector.
As the first option is very likely an untenable one and the more expensive choice, it should not be considered seriously (or even humourously in some households).
So we can definitely dismiss that one ;)
I would suggest boiled linseed oil, warmed to increase the flow characteristics, or thinned with clean unadulterated mineral turps. The mineral turps will evaporate off as the linseed cures.
Linseed oil application is a very old method of corrosion protection. It can also be a bugger to remove later ::)

My preferred personal choice would be applying softened beeswax. You will have to use caution when handling your cast but that is what we do anyway. The beeswax will also negate any possibility of finger print rust marks from the acid on your hands.
---------------------------------------------------------
P.S.
Another excellent rust preventer is lanolin. Use the raw stuff, heated in a double boiler, then apply by brush and wipe with a rag. The rag is a carrier and can be used to apply as it gets loaded.
I have used both lanalin, BLO and beeswax to protect my tooling and all metal that needs protection. They all work well but what needs to be considered here, is we are applying to food vessels.

Quote

I have tried searching for recommendations but have been unsuccesful, so thought I would go ahead and ask. I have several skillets I need to put into long-term storage for my kids. SWMBO insists they can't all stay in the kitchen, so what would be the best way to treat and store these? My storage building IS NOT temperature or climate controlled, in any way.
Thanks in advance.

Mike Goulet · « **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2015, 06:31:37 PM »

I was actually going to mention same idea C.B had. For larger pieces, you could find those large vacuum sealing bags at some stores that use a home vacuum to compress clothing for travel and storage purposes..

I also like Jame's idea with the wax option, as he said, when you buy tool bits such as for routers, they usually come with a resin wax coating. More to keep the piece from damage, but cool idea to " preserve" a piece of CI

:)

Jeff Thornton · « **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2015, 06:39:15 PM »

First, thanks for all the input. No basement, no garage, just my outside storage barn. We have what most would consider to be a starter house, filled with 3 kids.

After combining several of these ideas together, I will test both the mineral oil or beeswax, followed up with the vacuum sealing. I totally did not think of using the foodsaver that way ...As for my timeframe, my oldest is 15, middle is 14 and youngest is 7 ...so it depends on the piece and the child.

I also agree with Mark, dont want cosmoline anywhere near my cookware. James is also correct in that we dont want to exchange spouses. I have one that is a keeper. :)

Claudia Killebrew · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2015, 12:38:56 PM »

I have a very old griddle that had been stored in a Florida garage for about 30 years with nothing to protect it but its seasoning. That was one heck of a seasoning, because it looks as good as the day it was seasoned. I'm not saying you should attempt that, but it is possible.

Now, having said that, I think the wax idea is probably the best bet. After all, before CI was pre-seasoned, it was coated in wax to prevent rust while in storage or on display before sale.

Mitch Myers · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2015, 02:14:54 AM »

Hello,
I have found linseed oil works very well !!!
Comes off easy with a few heat cycles.

Just Do NOT throw used rags paper towels in the garbage they will self ignite!!!
Personal experience.

Mark Zizzi · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2015, 07:56:37 AM »

These shrink bags are pretty cheap. You could oil or wax the pans up good and then seal them...just another thought.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/50-14-X-20-PVC-Shrink-Wrap-Bags-SALE-/111502638953

Robert Bearfield · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2015, 10:03:57 PM »

i have 2 suggestions, but the first is darn near impossible, it is using bear grease. the re-enactment people use bear grease on their powder pads in the rifels because it is the only oil that doesn't rust in the gun barrels, plus indians used to use it to protect their bows and for making leather waterproof.
now the second is easier, coat the pans with coconut oil and wrap them in a coconut oil soaked rag, and put in boxes, and try to make airtite with shipping tape. the coconut oil will wipe off easily when unpacked with no possibility of any harm to the iron and no side effects to people, i cook and season with it.

James Wilson · « **Reply #13 on:** January 25, 2015, 12:26:53 AM »

Hi Robert. Yes, coconut, the super plant that will feed you, cloth you, nourish your skin and hair, house you, cure what ails you, provide fuel for the fire along with a number of other applications.
One of which is a source for fuel for vehicles and God help us when that day dawns as it will force the price above the common good :(.
It genuinely is one of Gods gifts.
I use coconut cream in a lot of my cooking, as a skin and hair tonic, also internally for its anti bacterial and digestive qualities. However as a fat it does have a propensity to go rancid. In your experience does coconut oil have the same characteristic?

Robert Bearfield · « **Reply #14 on:** January 25, 2015, 08:19:37 PM »

i haven't had any go rancid. and my previoue post about storage could be amanded to store in a tote covered with an oil soaked rag. tote idea came from the wife.

Roger Muse · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2015, 01:31:11 PM »

The one thing that nobody has brought up yet (except for the lindseed oil paper towels) is spontaneous combustion. As oils oxidize, they give off heat. Oil in a rag has the added danger of the cloth acting as an insulator, holding the heat with enough efficiency to reach ignition temperature.

If you intend on storing your cast iron in oilsoaked rags, be sure that you put them into an air tight container, and throw in a few "oxygen absorbers". This will eliminate the oxidation of the oil and prevent any heat being generated.

If you do not have an air tight container, then please do not use any rags or paper towels when storing oil covered cast iron.

You wouldn't after all want to warp your cast iron collection when the storage unit burns to the ground. ::)

C. Perry Rapier · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2015, 04:59:03 PM »

Quote

Hi Robert. Yes, coconut, the super plant that will feed you, cloth you, nourish your skin and hair, house you, cure what ails you, provide fuel for the fire along with a number of other applications.
One of which is a source for fuel for vehicles and God help us when that day dawns as it will force the price above the common good :(.
It genuinely is one of Gods gifts.
I use coconut cream in a lot of my cooking, as a skin and hair tonic, also internally for its anti bacterial and digestive qualities. However as a fat it does have a propensity to go rancid. In your experience does coconut oil have the same characteristic?

Hello James. Its nice to hear from you. Thank you for posting this. I had no idea the common coconut was so useful. Thats some good stuff. Thanks again for posting this for us. :)

James Wilson · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2015, 03:08:41 AM »

My pleasure Perry and a bright hello back to you; it is so good to hear your voice once more, friend. 8-)
The fibre from the nut is used to good effect as a garden mulch, and also as a growing medium . Our 'Sleepyhead' mattresses were (are ) top of the range, and they're some decades old now but still in top condition. They also have coconut fibre as a constituent part of the construction. This is a link to them; now made in Australia :(
http://www.sleepyhead.com.au/whats-inside/comfort-layers.aspx
As a thinking man, no doubt you have since pondered on the subject and discovered more about the humble(?) coconut and its source. As long term survivors of sometimes catastrophic weather, they bend with the wind which is often a good characteristic to possess ;).

Quote

Hello James. Its nice to hear from you. Thank you for posting this. I had no idea the common coconut was so useful. Thats some good stuff. Thanks again for posting this for us. :)

Russell Ware · « **Reply #18 on:** January 28, 2015, 09:15:20 AM »

Just remember, never stand or sleep under a coconut tree after dark. The coconuts only fall at night.

Mark Zizzi · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2015, 02:30:28 PM »

The #1 best application for coconuts....Pina Colada's! [smiley=beer.gif] 8-)

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Author Topic: Long Term Storage (Read 10358 times)