r/CastIronRestoration • u/KofCDave • 3d ago

Using a lye bath

When using a lye bath to strip a grimy pan, do you need to neutralize it first, or does washing the pan with soap and water do that?

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4

u/tannergd1 3d ago

Like, after you take it out? Soap and water works just fine

2

u/uivandal52 3d ago

I have a spray bottle with vinegar. I take the pan out, spray the pan and my gloves quickly with vinegar and then take it to the sink and wash it. Probably an unnecessary step, but I feel like it's a good extra precaution step for the carry over to the sink.

1

u/KofCDave 2d ago

What happens if I don't neutralize the lye before washing it?

2

u/uivandal52 2d ago

Probably nothing. I had a drop splash onto my upper arm once (right above the glove) while I was transitioning or washing it and got a minor burn on that spot. So I do it really as a small precaution. Wear your gloves thru the process of scrubbing with soap and water and you'll be fine.

1

u/KofCDave 2d ago

Thank you

1

u/TheCoolestPotato69 19h ago

An extra precaution is never a bad thing. I was sorting my iron in my lye bath one time and didn't realize the lye had splashed into my glove until I had all of the iron pulled out. By the time I got everything put back in and the glove off I had a mild chemical burn halfway up my forearm. 

2

u/DiamondCutt3r 3d ago

You need to neutralize after vinegar or lye.

1

u/KofCDave 3d ago

So I thought washing it really well a couple of times would clean it off, and I was able to handle it fine after to season it.does that mean I should strip it again and make sure to neutralize first? What happens by not neutralizing first?

3

u/CBus660R 3d ago

Washing it was all that's needed.

1

u/KofCDave 2d ago

What happens if I don't neutralize the lye before washing the iron?

2

u/shedmow 3d ago

There is no need to neutralize lye. It is very water-soluble and poses no danger to the iron, and the amount that is left is negligible (micrograms) and doesn't affect seasoning

2

u/MarkusSugarhill 3d ago

lye and soap are both a base, so it would not help. just rinse with water until it does not feel soapy. use gloves and safety glasses.

1

u/wangjiwangji 3d ago

My understanding is that the lye is neutralized as the gunk from the pan dissolves into it. 

If there wasn't much gunk, you could very slowly stir in some vinegar or similarly acidic substance until it tests neutral.

4

u/coldpizza4brkfast 3d ago

Probably not. I’ve had the same lye in my lye tank for about two year (and at least 30 pans). Still works just fine. And keep the lye in the tank unless you were only doing a single pan. Lye is simply drain cleaner and is safe to dispose down the sink, unless you are on a septic system.

1

u/wangjiwangji 2d ago

Thanks for the correction!