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QuietJourney Forums › Boundary Waters / Quetico Discussion Forums › Strictly Gear - Gear specific reviews and ideas. › Cleaning the outside of pots. Really?

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Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? (Read 4431 times)

Web-lackey
Inukshuk
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Cleaning the outside of pots. Really?
May 15^th, 2012 at 5:30am

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intrepid_camper wrote on May 8^th, 2012 at 6:45pm:

...or if I really want them clean something like Zip-strip paint remover will take the black off pretty easily

I've never understood cleaning the outside of pots but admittedly, mine was getting a bit heavy. A wire wheel barely scratched the stuff. I'm going to miss the patina though. Grin

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Attached is a before and after shot I did for comparison. Didn't have any zip-strip so I used lacquer thinner and it seemed to work well plus I have a ton of it and don't need it any more. What remains didn't come off with citristrip or any other solvent I have on hand.

It's really ugly now but it's over 10% (0.7oz) lighter. I was mostly curious how much weight that stuff added. Now I wish I'd have measured how long it took to bring a couple of cups of water to a boil before and after.

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chaga Inukshuk Offline Posts: 339 Location: S/W Pennsylvania Joined: Sep 9^th, 2003	Re: Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? Reply #1 - May 15^th, 2012 at 11:00am	Quote Print Post
	I am really going to have to do that with my coffee pot. Good idea to weigh it, I too have wondered about boil time with a quarter inch of insulation. Believe I am on year 8 or 9 without ever cleaning it. Oh if coffee pots could talk.


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Kerry Inukshuk Offline Posts: 427 Location: Toronto Joined: May 13^th, 2010	Re: Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? Reply #2 - May 15^th, 2012 at 1:36pm	Quote Print Post
	Someone in another thread on stoves vs. fire mentioned the old trick of smearing a light film of detergent on the outside of pots before putting them on the fire. I have used this technique for years and it is a great way to keep pots clean with very little effort. The carbon that normally builds up directly on and adheres to the pot builds up instead on the film of detergent which can then be easily wiped away.


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Preacher Contributer Subscriber Offline Posts: 1327 Location: COTU Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? Reply #3 - May 15^th, 2012 at 2:50pm	Quote Print Post
	I have pots for the fire & pots that are never for the fire. Every few years the fire pots get a scrub with oven cleaner. Yeah, all that creosote build up will affect weight & performance. It's also messy, but if you aren't getting dirty you aren't having fun! The soap idea is neat. I just never think of it at the right time.


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jjcanoeguide Inukshuk Offline Posts: 309 Location: Frisco, TX Joined: Jun 20^th, 2007	Re: Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? Reply #4 - May 15^th, 2012 at 4:09pm	Quote Print Post
	I mentioned the soap trick in another thread. Another way I've heard about involves using DEET. Don't know that I would do it, and not sure if they were using 100% DEET or what. I guess with a little acid, you would get rid of the scorch, as well as a little of the pot. How's that for weight savings?!!!!!


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Preacher Contributer Subscriber Offline Posts: 1327 Location: COTU Joined: Apr 10^th, 2010	Re: Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? Reply #5 - May 15^th, 2012 at 5:11pm	Quote Print Post
	Bug spray (DEET) is good for cleaning tree sap & tar. It's a solvent. I'll use it on my knife & saw when they get gummy.


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db Web-lackey Inukshuk Voyageur Offline Posts: 5460 Location: Just off the beaten path. Joined: Sep 14^th, 2002	Re: Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? Reply #6 - May 16^th, 2012 at 7:22am	Quote Print Post
	That was my fire pot. It (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) from the time I light the fire until it assists in putting it out. I don't use soap on it because I refill it in the lake. It's one thing to avoid the soot slick but I couldn't do that with a soaped up pot. I also have a stove only pot. After 30 years it's bottom has a brown and blue patina that doesn't come off. It's more like the oxide is stained and I can only assume it heats up faster now than it did when the bottom was new and shiny.


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zski Inukshuk Offline Posts: 447 Location: IL Joined: Sep 30^th, 2010	Re: Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? Reply #7 - May 16^th, 2012 at 12:54pm	Quote Print Post
	That's a fantastic photo and suitable for framing.


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Paddle_Guy Inukshuk Offline Posts: 300 Location: Western Michigan Joined: Feb 10^th, 2003	Re: Cleaning the outside of pots. Really? Reply #8 - May 16^th, 2012 at 11:17pm	Quote Print Post
	interesting comment about "deet." On one particularly "buggy" trip i used some deet to fight the bugs off. what little was left on my hands took the finish off my paddle. Why wouldn't it clean your pots?


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