My belief is that the rusty grinder is perfectly safe to use, although I'm afraid I'd try to touch it up with a wire brush.

It could impart an off flavor, depending on how rusty and what you are grinding.

Annie

Yeah....what Annie said...puts hair on you chest and red blood in your veins.
I would prefer a green scrubbie to a wire brush though.
Nothing toxic about rust...use it in good health....just clean it well!
Linda C

Run a piece of bread through it after using it and before washing. My grandmother taught me that. Anything stuck inside goes out on the bread.

Wire brush, steel wool, 400 grit sandpaper, whatever you can. Do your best then don't worry about it anymore. Nice score. Smiles.

There may be areas you cannot get to to remove the rust by sanding or scraping.

You can get rust removers such as "Navel Jelly" to melt away the rust.

dcarch

Wow dcarch, I haven't thought about Navel Jelly in eons. Used to use the stuff to clean the mag wheels on my high school sweetheart's '65 Chevelle...

I'll get to work on the grinder as it will also be a lovely addition to my fall hutch display along side Mom's apple sauce sieve.

Thanks all for your input, much appreciated.

Bar Keeper's Friend will easily remove light "surface" rust. Naval Jelly or wire bush is better for "flaky" rust. A light wipe with Food Grade Mineral Oil (available in the the pharmacy section of most stores) will protect it from rusting again. It is harmless to humans and is the type oil to use on wooden cuttings boards.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

A wad of aluminum foil will also remove rust. You can soak your food grinder, or the cutters if they are the only thing rusty, in a zip-lock bag in real Coca Cola, another famous rust remover.

After I use my food grinder and wash and dry it, I set it in the oven with the light on to make sure it dries thoroughly and quickly. I wipe my my cutting disks with coconut oil - which doesn't go rancid like other fats, then I vacuum-seal it in a FoodSaver Bag when not in use to avoid exposure to oxygen. It's hard to believe my food grinder is 40-years old!!! Still looks new in the box ;-).

-Grainlady

Arjay:
I do as Dcarch, Cucunut nj, and Danab .
Then run some bread thru and apply some Mineral Oil.

If you use a grinder, try not to hit the cutting edges of the Meat Grinder and the Cutters.

So you will not take off the sharp edge.

You can do the cutters on on a piece of wet or dry paper,
laid flat on a Flat, hard surface.

You can even use water, while polishing but rinse off and dry. Use a hair dryer, before you apply the Oil.

LOU

PS: Do not get rid of the Waffle Baker. They can be repaired easily.

I tried Navel Jelly on my belly button once.
It didn-t remove the rust.

You are too funny, Lou. Geez, wouldn't it be nice if Navel Jelly could be the new cure all product for rust and wrinkle removal!

The waffle maker is my pride and joy, purchased at a yard sale years ago for 5 bucks to replace my Gramms's unit which was of course way, way older. How does the song/commercial go, " I wish I knew now what I didn't know then?" Thanks for the heads up "they" can be repaired.

I have been a long time listener but have called the CF a few times over the years. You are a really fun group of hard core cooking people. I have learned so much I shake my head at times and marvel at the ease. Like dag gummit!

Thanks again for the info. You all make my world larger on a daily basis.

Arjay

Lou,

I have used Naval Jelly for years in certain cleaning applications. And not once in all of those years did it ever occur to me that it could be used in your unique manner. LOL...that's a good one.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

"------I tried Navel Jelly on my belly button once.
It didn-t remove the rust. Lou"

LOLOL!

Lou, you are sick. :-)

dcarch

I found my grinder in the 1970's on the curb on move out day in a college town, and it was a mess, but it was in the original 1929 box. Took it home, steel wooled all the rust and crud off. Gave it a good hot, soapy wash and let it dry. My grandmother was still alive in those days and she said to always store the dies and smaller parts in a ziptop bag with a cup of rice in it. The rice would absorb the bits of moisture and it would never rust. 40 years later it still looks as good as the day I cleaned it up.

Steve

Dc: Did you have to bring it to everyones attention.

The Navel Jelly lit a light bulb.
When I did Auto Body work, I had a liquid to brush on rust,
that turned it to a Primer.
Just a thought !

Thanks Guys !!!

Thought we could have a little " Clean " fun for a change.

Steve:
Sounds like you got a winner.

We did a lot of flea markets in the 60s.
That-s when I got rid of mine.

A guy gave me a really hard time.
I asked him if he wanted a Meat grinder, for an earring.

So I sold it, before I got into trouble.

Should have kept it. That kind of earing would be right in style now.
LOU

Steve, I really like that idea.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus