UPDATED: Buying a steel plate tomarrow. **GOT THE PLATE**

[shuboyje]

You washed it with alcohol correct?

[mistachy]

You washed it with alcohol correct?

Yes. Didn't work.

It's a pretty thick layer of grayish black finish. I took 80 weight sandpaper to it and it started to come off. But that is too labor intensive. I'm headed to Lowes for a wire wheel

[scott123]

An overnight soaking in vinegar and then a light sanding will take it off.

For me, I wouldn't mess around. Naval jelly. Follow the directions, wear proper gloves and do it outdoors.

[bfguilford]

Yes. Didn't work.

It's a pretty thick layer of grayish black finish. I took 80 weight sandpaper to it and it started to come off. But that is too labor intensive. I'm headed to Lowes for a wire wheel

I had to sand it repeatedly with 60 grit paper on a palm sander, and it never all came off. What I did was sand, then clean with Barkeepers Friend, then repeat (around 5 or 6 times, if I remember well). I would stay away from a wire wheel since it will likely give you a lot of surface imperfections, which *might* make it more likely that you'll end up with sticking problems.

Barry

[shuboyje]

The purpose of the alcohol is to remove oil.  If you have to mechanically remove whatever this is, it isn't oil.  

Make sure to wear sleeves, gloves and eye protection while using the wire wheel.  They tend to throw their bristles.

[mistachy]

I had to sand it repeatedly with 60 grit paper on a palm sander, and it never all came off. What I did was sand, then clean with Barkeepers Friend, then repeat (around 5 or 6 times, if I remember well). I would stay away from a wire wheel since it will likely give you a lot of surface imperfections, which *might* make it more likely that you'll end up with sticking problems.

Barry

my electric sander does a decent enough job of smoothing out the surface

[Chicago Bob]

The purpose of the alcohol is to remove oil.  If you have to mechanically remove whatever this is, it isn't oil.  

Make sure to wear sleeves, gloves and eye protection while using the wire wheel.  They tend to throw their bristles.

Not if ya have a good one....

Barry, 60 grit on a sander would have much more potential to cause surface imperfections than the type of wire wheel he is probably using...especially if you accidentally tip the sander on it's edge. 60 grit can gouge.Sounds like you could have gone with 36/40 first then finished with 60/80 grit.
This is jus the bodyman in me coming out...couldn't resist, sorry.  

[Jet_deck]

An overnight soaking in vinegar and then a light sanding will take it off.

For me, I wouldn't mess around. Naval jelly. Follow the directions, wear proper gloves and do it outdoors.

Then you wash it off with water and it rusts again? 

In my opionion oiling and seasoning the steel plate is no different than using a dough that has oil in it, or pepperoni oil or sausauge oil getting in the steel.  Steel is porous, and some of that oil is going to get all soaked in there regardless of it's smoke point.  I am not against oiling the steel, can you tell?  Regardless, this discussion is probably the least of the OP's worries at this point.  Can we agree on that?

[mistachy]

this black stuff aint no joke. its takes serious diggin with 50 grit paper to tear into it, and even then i have to finish it off with 80 grit to see the silver steel underneath.  could the Naval jelly have any chance of breaking through this stuff to make this job easier? all my electric sander does is polish it and make it look nice. it doesnt dig into the finish. i have to put my thumb behind the 50 grit. the wire wheel does a tad better than the sander, but not much to make a difference.

[Chicago Bob]

Try a Scotch bright pad with some acetone or Simple Green/Purple Power/Greased Light'in.

[shuboyje]

Reading your last comment it sounds like you are trying to remove the mill scale.  If that is indeed the case it is generally done using smooth continuos strokes with a grinding wheel in an angle grinder.  Down side to that method is without a bit of practice odds are you aren't going to end up with a smooth finish.  Personally I leave the scale on as it is basically made of the same thing as blue steel and will not cause any harm.

[ThatsAmore]

mistachy,

Looking at your pics it appears to me that the steel has been chemically treated.  Don't freak out with that terminology.  I say this as it appears your steel has an iridescent color from what I can see in the pics.  It appears to be a phosphate coating or treatment. Some of it may also be milling marks from where it was rolled. Naval Jelly is a thick jell of Phosphoric acid, so I think you're going to end up in the same place.  Personally, I think I'd clean it well, maybe in the dishwasher a few times, and bake it numerous times getting hot as you can a few times. Maybe do numerous crust only bakes before you start loading pies for eating.

[ThatsAmore]

Reading your last comment it sounds like you are trying to remove the mill scale.  If that is indeed the case it is generally done using smooth continuos strokes with a grinding wheel in an angle grinder.  Down side to that method is without a bit of practice odds are you aren't going to end up with a smooth finish.  Personally I leave the scale on as it is basically made of the same thing as blue steel and will not cause any harm.

I'd agree with that, where i was trying to go as well.

[mistachy]

Reading your last comment it sounds like you are trying to remove the mill scale.  If that is indeed the case it is generally done using smooth continuos strokes with a grinding wheel in an angle grinder.  Down side to that method is without a bit of practice odds are you aren't going to end up with a smooth finish.  Personally I leave the scale on as it is basically made of the same thing as blue steel and will not cause any harm.

but the residue keeps coming off, i dont think its safe to be ingesting that stuff? when i scrubb it with any pad, the pad turns black. maybe ill use muratic acid...

[Jet_deck]

  maybe ill use muratic acid...

I'm out.  This has gone from simple to acid.

My final .02

[Essen1]

mistachy,

Acid? Sanding?

Seriously? Might as well put the damn thing in the trash right now.

Some tips...

Apply a light coat of a high-smoke point oil on both sides and pop in it the oven for about an hour at 500°F.  Make sure you have a fan going at all times.

Turn oven off, let the plate cool down to lukewarm, wipe off with a paper towel. Repeat above process.

[TXCraig1]

Hit it with millisecond pulses from a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser.

[Ev]

Find a shop that does glass beading. It's like sand blasting but much gentler on the steel. Maybe the shop where you bought it?

[mistachy]

I'm out.  This has gone from simple to acid.

My final .02

Not so simple. i put in 2 hours of work and only got 10% off. i could use vinegar, but not sure how affective that will be.


UPDATED

Scratch that. I know exactly how affective it would be. IT WORKED.  It took about 12 hours, but the vinegar ate through that thick chit and came right off when i went down stairs this morning.  SO what ive done is take a huge sheet of glass, I put a puddle of vinegar on it and then layed my steel on top of the puddle. i dont have a bath i could use for this so the glass trick will have to suffice. Scott was spot on the with the vinegar. Thanks for all who chimed in. I didnt know what mill scale was before yesterday.

I figure it will be done by 5pm or so, mountain time and i can smooth the surface with my electric sander. ITS PIZZA MAKIN' TIME!!!!!!

[mistachy]

Find a shop that does glass beading. It's like sand blasting but much gentler on the steel. Maybe the shop where you bought it?

the steel yard i bought it from only collects sells and cuts.