rusty cast iron, best way to clean?

have you got a self-cleaning oven? stick it in there and set it to clean.....when it comes out there will still be rust-but it will clean off any **** or crunchy bits, which you can soak off in the sink with water/ vinegar mix.....use brillo..scrub off--then re-season (dry-wipe down with oil and put back in oven at 250 for 2 hrs) and you have a "brand new" pan!

Soak cast iron pieces in lye water. Mix 1 can of lye with 4-5 gallons of water in a plastic container. Suspend pieces utilizing steel coat hangers. Usually several days to a week for really dirty pieces will be enough. I have left pieces in the tub for months (yes, months) and they do not rust and are not damaged by this method.

Remove pieces after soaking and rinse with hose and relatively high water pressure. If grease does not wash away, try wiping with stainless steel souring pad or brush. Repeat the lye bath as required.

After piece(s) are dry, brush with fine steel brush on drill or wire wheel.

Wash the piece in dishwashing soap and warm water and rinse thoroughly. Dry. You can speed the drying by placing in the oven at 200°F

As for rust Soak pieces in solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water for several hours. Now this will depend on each piece, BUT remember vinegar is an acid and acids EAT metal You will ruin your piece if you let it in the bath too long.

now for seasoning this is what i do............Once a piece is fully cleaned and dried put it in the oven "naked"; no oil of any kind and heat it to 450°F. Leave it in long enough to just reach that temperature. Be careful and remove the piece from the oven and let it cool to where you can just handle it. This step works great for slightly darkening the peice and giving it a uniform appearance. No one likes a spotted or zebra stripped piece. Use Crisco shortening only and use a cotton rag (t-shirt) to apply a thin/very light coat on the entire piece. If there are tight nooks and crannies to fill in, use a Q-tip.

Once completely and lightly coated (note: we stress a LIGHT coat), put it back in the oven at 400°F for 30 (use a timer) minutes and at that point turn off the oven and leave it in the oven till it cools on it's own.

When you remove the piece it will have a nice dark brown uniform pantina that shines brightly.

You can repeat with one or more coats of Crisco, if you like, but you'll be happy none the less.