Removing Baked Soot from Stainless Steel

[Darryl of Sussex]

I just picked up a used stainless steel stove and while I like the purple patina caused by heat, the soot has been properly baked on and it looks filthy! It’s a cylinder type gassifier, with a wire mesh grid at the bottom and an ash chamber (very filthy) beneath it that I cannot get to with filth scrapers of any kind...but I shall not be defeated.

So far:
soaked in oven cleaner for a couple of hours. Result, filthy and slightly filthy oven cleaner!
Rubbed furiously with fine wire wool. Result, filthy!
Wire brush. Filth!
Brasso. Filthy!

I have left it out in the freezing garden tonight to teach it a lesson but I need your advice about how to remove the baked on soot filth tomorrow. I’m thinking mechanical torture but am open to reason.

Grrr,

Darryl

 

[Stew]

Er, when you use it is not just going to get into the same state against?

 

[lou1661]

Caustic soda will do it, however it’s nasty stuff and the soot will return!

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

I don’t mind keeping it clean once it’s clean but I need to get it into a reasonable state first. Caustic soda....now there’s a thing.

 

[Toddy]

Lou1661's right about the caustic soda, but you can sometimes shift it if you soak in first in biological washing powder/liquid dissolved in hot-ish water, too.
No idea why, because soot is carbon, but it can also be shifted with washing soda and fairy liquid...and a lot of elbow grease.

One of the glass fibre pens shifts if off fine details and awkward corners, but it's still a lot of work.
Generally just getting enough off to not make a mess of bags, etc., is fine.

M

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

Dremel with a wire brush bit!

 

[Janne]

Live with it.
Wabi-sabi.

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

Live with it.
Wabi-sabi.

It’s like looking at dental plaque and it must diiiiiiie !

 

[Janne]

If it has to go, brushing as suggested.
After that I would high gloss polish it. So the new soot does not adhere so easily plus you can use it as a mirror, both emergency and shaving!

If brushing does not work, sandblasting with crushed nut shells.
But then you are spending money which is crazy.

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

If it has to go, brushing as suggested.
After that I would high gloss polish it. So the new soot does not adhere so easily plus you can use it as a mirror, both emergency and shaving!

If brushing does not work, sandblasting with crushed nut shells.
But then you are spending money which is crazy.

Yeah this is just about getting it into decent shape and maintaining it. I’m like this with shiny thingsss...... black! Spray it matte black!! Ta-daaaahhhh....

 

[Janne]

My beloved Trangia (Aluminium) coffee pot is black on the outside, black-brown on the inside, and the knob on the lid is half melted/ baked.
1975 or 76.
I have only ever rinsed it.

 

[Robson Valley]

If I don't need to eat off it, not a problem. Looks like I've used it before.
My best example is the outside bottom of my 50 yr old carbon steel wok.
I've always cooked on the inside.

 

[Nomad666]

if it bothers you that much throw it out and get a new one after every use.... Really!!!! is this an ADHD thing or is this a millennial living in a sterilized bubble thing?
I just want to know is all...

 

[ScottE]

I’d say live with it and any other ocd desires.....it may lead to a more peaceful mind?

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

If it was my soot, i’d probably live with it but it’s not. It’s a used stove that needs a good clean; same as i’d clean my boots or anything else.

 

[ScottE]

If it was my soot, i’d probably live with it but it’s not. It’s a used stove that needs a good clean; same as i’d clean my boots or anything else.

I get that.
Caustic soda then.......wear good ppe if you use it though, very nasty underestimated chemical.

 

[Jackroadkill]

My mum used to use rhubarb leaves in boiled water to remove baked-on carbon from pans etc. I know it's the wrong time of year for rhubarb but it might be worth thinking about in future.

All she did was boil the rhubarb leaf in a big pan and chuck the sooty / carbonised item in and let it cook for a bit.

 

[Toddy]

You can buy oxalic acid (the rhubarb leaves) that's used to remove rust stains from fabric.
Sometimes the chemist's have it in stock.

M

 

[Janne]

Will that work on the bbq too? The cast iron grid you place the food on is horrible on mine.

 

[Darryl of Sussex]

See? Now yer all at it!