How to remove clearcoat on copper pots & pans

A. Try oven cleaner ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or Marlena Baker's solution or
Acetone ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly Flammable! mixed with ammonia ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] (1 part ammonia 3-5 parts acetone) can be used too. Hope it helps and good luck.

A. This is from Revere's website taken directly from the warranty. Hope it helps...

"To remove protective coating:

• In pot large enough to immerse at least half of this item, combine 1 tblsp. baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] to each quart of water used.
• Boil solution. Submerse item in boiling solution and boil for 20-30 minutes. The coating will soften & begin to peel.
• Remove from solution and wash item in warm, soapy water, scrubbing with a Nylon scrubber to remove softened coating. DO NOT use steel wool.
• Finally, clean with copper cleaner (available at supermarkets) and a soft sponge."

Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition  🙂

Q. I am the owner of a complete set of Revere Limited Edition Copper pots and pans. These are the 1801 signature pans that are completely copper solid copper on the exterior and stainless steel on the inside with solid brass handles.

These pans came with a "durable transparent coating to keep it in perfect condition in transit or when used decoratively" per the original label inside the pan. The label states that "Before using for cooking, this coating must be removed to avoid blackening from heat or flame. Removal is easily accomplished by generously spraying the copper area with such household cleaners as Fantastik, Mr. Clean, Formula 409, etc. Let stand for about two minutes. Coating will start to dissolve. Spray again, then wipe gently with soft sponge or cloth."

What I need to know is what the "durable coating was/is, as I want to have the pans polished and recoated. I know that lacquer is sometimes used however the removal of lacquer in the future is much more difficult than this "durable coating" (what ever it is) and the durable coating works perfectly. I have tried to contact Revere without success. Perhaps one of you or your or someone in your network of contacts actually knows what Revere used for this "durable coating" or where I could have these pans refinished/coated.

Thanks in advance!

A. This coating appears to be a selling point, which means it may be a trade secret that Revere will not reveal, and it's even vaguely possible that it is patented. But if you speak to lacquer experts like G.J. Nikolas [a finishing.com supporting advertiser], I'd be confident that they would be familiar with the process.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

A. The above companies can also tell you what to strip their coating with and it will be available at your local hardware store.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition  🙂

A. How do you know that the coating is still there? I also have a set of Revereware of that vintage. After washing it, I just used it for cooking. Any remaining coating was probably incinerated! If you think the coating is still there because there are darker spots where the copper oxidized over the years (pin holes in the protective layer) and brighter spots where the coating protected it, just remember that the areas that were protected aren't going to oxidize immediately. It will look measled until the protected spots oxidize to match the areas that were unprotected. Also, Revere makes a cleaner*. You could try using that. It has a slight abrasive, but not enough to scratch. Takes the oxidation off the copper parts so you could make it all look the same.

Good luck,

A. I have had a set of the all-copper-clad-stainless-lined cookware, since the '70's, as well as many import pieces. In the beginning, we were told to NOT cook with it till the lacquer coating was removed. Cooking would harden the coating and super adhere it in spots - true. To remove that, we boiled the pot in vinegar ⇦in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil links] -awkward! Recently, polishing the ENTIRE collection, with desperate attitude of the old & cranky, I gave some a shot with spray oven cleaner ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] . BONANZA! Even 30 yr old lacquer moved! Does NOT hurt the copper! Followed up with a Paste Cleaner (not powder), polishing is fun again!

Acetone

on eBay or

Amazon

(affil links)

A. Boiling does work well. If the pot is large, you might have trouble finding a large pot in which to boil it. The finish is a kind of varnish. You can also buy a can of acetone ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly Flammable! . Take the pot outside and use a rag to apply the acetone. The acetone softens the varnish. Then you can go inside and use Barkeepers Friend ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and a pad to clean it up under warm water. The acetone is MUCH quicker than boiling and MUCH easier. Good luck.

A. Hi, This thread and others reveal that the coating may not be so easily removed from 30 year old cookware. Whether that's because the formulation was different 30 years ago, or because the coating has cured for 30 years, the fact is that a more aggressive removal method may be needed on the old stuff.

Regards,

A. The tip to use oven cleaner ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] ! I just added a piece to my set of Revere Copper from the '70s and the new piece had the coating. It came off perfectly! Back in the 70's I was boiling my pans in baking soda, and this was so much easier. Absolutely no damage to the copper! Thanks!

A. `Hi, Liza

This may not be the right answer for you or Ronna, but it may help somebody. Copper is electrically conductive and lacquer is not; so, you can touch the probes of an inexpensive VOM multimeter ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] at a few different spots to determine if the lacquer has been removed. Good luck.

Regards,

A. I used Brake Parts Cleaner ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and it was instant. Just brush off the coating with a scrub brush. Do it outside and wear gloves.

A. I wouldn't use it considering the warning label. When this was clearly designed to never be used, who can say that the lacquer is even the only problem? There is probably a benzotriazole ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or similar treatment, and although this is probably of low toxicity, how do we know there isn't some more toxic material between the metal and the lacquer.
Luck & Regards,


Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

A. If the copper pots are not lined with tin or other nonreactive metal, don't cook with them.

A. Hi Beth. Try lacquer thinner ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly flammable! first. If that doesn't do it, methylene chloride will if you can still find any (it's very toxic, requiring goggles ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] & rubber gloves ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] as a minimum and working outside from upwind). If you can't find a stripper with methylene chloride anymore, or don't want to use it, read on for some other possibilities.

Luck & Regards,

A. Try 3 parts acetone ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] Warning! highly Flammable! and 1 part ammonia (25%) mixture. Use safety goggles and rubber gloves! Bad smelling but very effective.

Hope it helps and good luck!