Cast iron pan with a crack

[tuscarawasbowman]

So I picked up a nice Wagner pan at the antique mall the other day for cheap. Got home and did a burn off to reseason. When I pulled it outta the oven I saw it had a crack running clear down side and into the base. Im thinking of brazing the crack on the exterior of the pan but don't want to expose myself to something toxic. Anybody have any experience with this?

[Al Dente]

post this on the knife makers/crafters forum.  those guys know their metals and techniques.

[bretto]

Used to camp with a guy who picked a 12" skillet out of the dump one day with crack 3/4 across the bottom. He took it home and brazed it with brass rod and never looked back.

[ksbowman]

You can weld it up with nickle rod or use 7018 LH. With the 7018 heat it up with a torch to cherry red, then as the color returns to normal run a pass on the stove side. Warm the entire skillet back up and pack it in dry sand or put it on the stove and bring it down to room  temperature slowly. Then grind the bottom smooth after it cools. Then reseason.

[tuscarawasbowman]

Originally posted by Al Dente:
post this on the knife makers/crafters forum.  those guys know their metals and techniques.

Thanks for the heads up. Being a "inbetween topic" I didn't know where it should go.

Rest of you thanks very much for your info. Looks like it's worth a try.

[Dave Bulla]

FYI, if you need to strip it before welding it, a great method is to put in your oven and run a self clean cycle if your oven has it.  When it comes out, the black seasoning will be turned to grey ash and will brush right off.  Just be sure to avoid water on the bare cast iron as it will rust in a hurry.

Also, there are several very informative posts here about how to care for cast iron if you use the search function.