How to Repair a Cracked Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron is incredibly durable. With proper care, it should last you a lifetime. But, mistakes happen in the kitchen. You might have dropped your pan accidentally. Or maybe you heated or cooled it too quickly.
Here’s how to repair your cracked cast iron skillet.
The simplest solution is to replace your cast iron pan. Check with the manufacturer to see if it’s under warranty. You might be able to get a new one for free.
If you want to keep your pan, you have two options. You can pay a welding company to weld the cast iron back together. Or you can try a product called Castaloy, a metal rod that melts at 500º to fill cracks in your cast iron cookware.
Keep in mind that it will likely cost more money to get the skillet repaired than to buy a new one. You also can’t guarantee how long the repair will last.
If you have experience working with metal, you can repair your cast iron skillet yourself. Effective techniques include welding, cold metal stitching, and brazing. Only qualified professionals should attempt any heat treatment processes. It’s vital to work with food-safe metals when repairing your cast iron pan.
The average homeowner can’t guarantee that the repair will be successful and extend the life of your cast iron. Not to mention that treating cast iron at high heat is quite dangerous.
How to Use Castaloy Cast Iron Repair Kit
Castaloy is a great product to repair a cracked cast iron skillet. You can find the product on their website.
1. Clean your pan thoroughly with a wire brush.
You can also use steel wool to remove dirt or baked on food. Don’t worry about chipping away the seasoning. You can reseason the pan after repairing the cast iron.
2. Apply the prep solution to the pan.
This comes with your Castaloy repair kit.
3. Light a propane torch and heat your cast iron pan.
This process is much safer than welding because you heat the metal at just 500º. Welding requires thousands of degrees of heat depending on the metal.
When the rod liquefies on contact, your pan is hot enough to repair.
4. Tilt the pan to direct the metal to the cracked area.
If you need to repair a completely detached part of your cast iron cookware, this method likely won’t work well. You’re better off bringing the pan to a welder or replacing it.
5. Once the cracked area is covered, let the pan cool.
6. Sand away any excess product.
How to Repair Cast Iron by Welding
How to Braze Cast Iron (Gas Brazing)
Introduction to Cold Metal Stitching
How do I remove rust from cast iron?
To remove rust from cast iron, scrub the area with a 1:1 vinegar and water solution. Soak the pan for a couple of hours or longer to remove tough rust. This will remove the seasoning but you can reseason the pan when you’re done cleaning.
Check out our complete guide on how to remove rust from cast iron here.
Can a crack in cast iron be repaired?
Yes, cracks in cast iron can be repaired by welding, brazing, or applying epoxy putty. As far as your cast iron cookware goes, it’s best if you replace it rather than repair it.
How strong is JB Weld on cast iron?
JB Weld Epoxy can withstand up to 550º once fully cured. Before using this putty to repair cookware, check with the manufacturer to ensure it is food-safe.
Here’s some JB Weld epoxy putty from Amazon.
Can you still use a cracked cast iron skillet?
A small crack is OK unless it’s on the bottom of your pan. In most cases, you should just replace your cast iron skillet.
What makes a cast iron skillet crack?
A cast iron skillet cracks due to a change in temperature or physical damage. Applying hot water to a cold pan or cold water to a hot pan may cause cracks to form. Or if you drop your cast iron pan, it can crack easily.
Can you epoxy cast iron?
Yes, you can epoxy cast iron. Check with the manufacturer to make sure the epoxy is food safe. It’s much easier to replace cast iron cookware than to repair it. This JB Weld epoxy putty from Amazon works great.
Thanks for reading! We hope you learned how to repair your cracked cast iron skillet. In most cases, don’t bother with the repair. Instead, buy a replacement pan.
To learn more about cast iron, check out the articles below.
Related Articles
Can you boil water in cast iron?
What size cast iron skillet should I buy?
How do I remove rust from cast iron?
Check out our complete guide on how to remove rust from cast iron here.
Can a crack in cast iron be repaired?
How strong is JB Weld on cast iron?
Here’s some JB Weld epoxy putty from Amazon.