Ack! Did my houseguests ruin my AllClad LTD cookware set?!!

I have a set of AllClad LTD pots/pans. A while back we had some
houseguests that were here helping us when our first child was born.
They used the AllClad for cooking and also cleaned them after. They
scratched the insides of all the pots and pans with who knows what.
If you shine them in the light you can see all the scrub marks on the
bottom and sides from when they were cleaned. When I rub my finger on
them you can't feel them, nor can you feel the scratches if you run
your fingernail across them. Are these things ruined or can I get my
mirror finish back? I'd like to buy something kind of polish, sit
down, and get these things back to the way they were when I bought
them.

I was very distressed tonight when I learned they were all scratched
up like this.

Also, why doesn't AllClad want you to put these LTDs in the dishwasher
anyways?

Thank you for your time in helping me, I sure will appreciate all
responses.

Thanks again,

-Jaime

your fingernail across them. Are these things ruined or can I get my
mirror finish back? I'd like to buy something kind of polish, sit
down, and get these things back to the way they were when I bought
them.


Did you buy them to cook with or to look at your reflection?

"Allister" wrote in message
om...
Ack! Did my houseguests ruin my AllClad LTD cookware set?!!

I have a set of AllClad LTD pots/pans. A while back we had some
houseguests that were here helping us when our first child was born.
They used the AllClad for cooking and also cleaned them after. They
scratched the insides of all the pots and pans with who knows what.
If you shine them in the light you can see all the scrub marks on the
bottom and sides from when they were cleaned. When I rub my finger on
them you can't feel them, nor can you feel the scratches if you run
your fingernail across them. Are these things ruined or can I get my
mirror finish back? I'd like to buy something kind of polish, sit
down, and get these things back to the way they were when I bought
them.

I was very distressed tonight when I learned they were all scratched
up like this.

Also, why doesn't AllClad want you to put these LTDs in the dishwasher
anyways?

Thank you for your time in helping me, I sure will appreciate all
responses.

Thanks again,

-Jaime

"Allister" wrote in message
om...
Ack! Did my houseguests ruin my AllClad LTD cookware set?!!

I have a set of AllClad LTD pots/pans. A while back we had some
houseguests that were here helping us when our first child was born.
They used the AllClad for cooking and also cleaned them after. They
scratched the insides of all the pots and pans with who knows what.


They are shot now. Sorry to heat that. I'd just toss them because you won't
even be able to boil water in them now. The bubbles will get caught on the
scratches and overheat.

I really feel bad for you.
Ed

"Allister" wrote in message
om...
: Ack! Did my houseguests ruin my AllClad LTD cookware set?!!
:
: I have a set of AllClad LTD pots/pans. A while back we had
some
: houseguests that were here helping us when our first child was
born.
: They used the AllClad for cooking and also cleaned them after.
They
: scratched the insides of all the pots and pans with who knows
what.
: If you shine them in the light you can see all the scrub marks
on the
: bottom and sides from when they were cleaned. When I rub my
finger on
: them you can't feel them, nor can you feel the scratches if you
run
: your fingernail across them. Are these things ruined or can I
get my
: mirror finish back? I'd like to buy something kind of polish,
sit
: down, and get these things back to the way they were when I
bought
: them.
:
: I was very distressed tonight when I learned they were all
scratched
: up like this.
:
: Also, why doesn't AllClad want you to put these LTDs in the
dishwasher
: anyways?
:
: Thank you for your time in helping me, I sure will appreciate
all
: responses.
:
: Thanks again,
:
: -Jaime
========

Hey Jaime,

Have no fear... you can get some Stainless Steel/Metal polish
that should clean up those scratches - even if it is All-Clad.
LOL


Cyndi
Remove a "b" to reply

"Steve Wertz"
Or is my funny bone broken tonight.

-sw

yep

Allister wrote:
Ack! Did my houseguests ruin my AllClad LTD cookware set?!!

I have a set of AllClad LTD pots/pans. A while back we had some
houseguests that were here helping us when our first child was born.
They used the AllClad for cooking and also cleaned them after. They
scratched the insides of all the pots and pans with who knows what.
If you shine them in the light you can see all the scrub marks on the
bottom and sides from when they were cleaned. When I rub my finger on
them you can't feel them, nor can you feel the scratches if you run
your fingernail across them. Are these things ruined or can I get my
mirror finish back? I'd like to buy something kind of polish, sit
down, and get these things back to the way they were when I bought
them.

They're not ruined, as they're perfectly good for cooking,
but getting the shine back will involve buffing.

I was very distressed tonight when I learned they were all scratched
up like this.

If you bought them aftermarket (outlet store, online, etc.)
they may come with those scratches as factory seconds.
I had to send one AC pot back to the online seller because
it showed up with what looked like heavy steel-wool marks
all over the inside.

Also, why doesn't AllClad want you to put these LTDs in the dishwasher
anyways?

The LTD series are stainless steel or non-stick on the
inside and hard-anodized aluminum* on the outside.

The detergents used in dishwashers will eat the anodized
aluminum. The detergents used in the sink won't.

--Blair
"Something about cationic and anionic..."

* - The "anodized" part of the aluminum is aluminum that's
been treated to be much harder than ordinary aluminum.
A few molecules below that black layer is plain aluminum
that would look silver if you could get to it, but you
can't, because the hard aluminum layer is harder than
steel. People use steel tools in hard-anodized pans like
Calphalon and think they've scratched the pan, when what
they've done is scraped steel off their tools, leaving
skid-marks.

in article , Allister at
wrote on 10/4/03 11:16 PM:

Ack! Did my houseguests ruin my AllClad LTD cookware set?!!

I have a set of AllClad LTD pots/pans. A while back we had some
houseguests that were here helping us when our first child was born.
They used the AllClad for cooking and also cleaned them after. They
scratched the insides of all the pots and pans with who knows what.
If you shine them in the light you can see all the scrub marks on the
bottom and sides from when they were cleaned. When I rub my finger on
them you can't feel them, nor can you feel the scratches if you run
your fingernail across them. Are these things ruined or can I get my
mirror finish back? I'd like to buy something kind of polish, sit
down, and get these things back to the way they were when I bought
them.

I was very distressed tonight when I learned they were all scratched
up like this.

Also, why doesn't AllClad want you to put these LTDs in the dishwasher
anyways?

Thank you for your time in helping me, I sure will appreciate all
responses.

Thanks again,

-Jaime

this is the perfect example of why i hate all-clad.

some poor soul paid a shitload of money for these stupid things, and now is
upset because they were used and washed, and no longer have the mirror
finish.

hello!
repeat after me.

"they are pots". "they are not objects of art. You're supposed to cook food
in them, not admire them from afar"

See...the original poster is all warped because these friggin things were so
damn expensive, he's scared to use them!

Thanks for the smart-ass answers to an honest question. I don't cook
that much and was under the impression that if the insides were
scratched that food would stick really good and it would become a
nightmare to clean.

Blair - Thanks for the info on the dishwashers and not coming back
like the other lame comments.

Does anyone have any suggestions on any products that I could use to
polish these up so I can get them back the way they were? I'm
guessing that people do this every now and again to keep them in good
shape?

Thanks again for useful information anyone might post.

-Jaime

"Allister" wrote in message
om...
Thanks for the smart-ass answers to an honest question. I don't cook
that much and was under the impression that if the insides were
scratched that food would stick really good and it would become a
nightmare to clean.

You seemed more concerned that the pots just did not look a shiny as when
new. they are tools for cooking, not mirrors for putting on your makeup.
I'd guess that 80%or more of AllClad buyers are status seekers, not cooks.
Dinner guests should be impressed with your food, not the tools used to
achieve great results.

It is also my job here to be a smart ass. If I did not do so, others would
be disappointed. I try to maintain my reputation as much as possible.
Thank you for noticing.

BTW, what model Volvo do you drive?
Ed

"Allister" wrote
Ack! Did my houseguests ruin my AllClad LTD cookware set?!!

I have a set of AllClad LTD pots/pans. A while back we had some
houseguests that were here helping us when our first child was born.
They used the AllClad for cooking and also cleaned them after. They
scratched the insides of all the pots and pans with who knows what.

If you actually do some cooking (instead of looking) more and more scratches
will accumulate and pretty soon all the scratches will blend together creating
a very nice "Professional Patina", which of course doubles and even triples the
surface area, making stainless steel cookware far less prone to sticking...
shiny stainless steel makes for the worst possible cookware finish... what you
want is to create (through actual use) a matte finish.


---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
Sheldon
````````````
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message . com...

It is also my job here to be a smart ass. If I did not do so, others would
be disappointed. I try to maintain my reputation as much as possible.
Thank you for noticing.

BTW, what model Volvo do you drive?

You're welcome. :-)

I drive a 91 Honda.

In article ,
(Allister) writes:

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
.com...

It is also my job here to be a smart ass. If I did not do so, others would
be disappointed. I try to maintain my reputation as much as possible.
Thank you for noticing.

BTW, what model Volvo do you drive?

You're welcome. :-)

I drive a 91 Honda.

Sounds more like you drive a Vulva Gran Tourisimo PMS hehe


---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =---
---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =---
Sheldon
````````````
"Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

On 5 Oct 2003 07:26:20 -0700, (Allister) wrote:

[...]

Does anyone have any suggestions on any products that I could use to
polish these up so I can get them back the way they were? I'm
guessing that people do this every now and again to keep them in good
shape?

Thanks again for useful information anyone might post.

-Jaime

This being the usenet world, no doubt there are some that do. Many of
us prefer to spend our time cooking with them.

As remarked, unless you have "scratches" applied with an axe, they
will have no impact on the use of the AlClad (for cooking, anyway).
Note that after you achieve a high polish, you should refrain from
using metal spoons, whisks, or other metal utensils in contact with
the finish. (Perhaps a coat of automotive wax would also help make
them easier to dust.)

Any metal products supply house can point you to a series of abrasives
that will run from a mat finish through a mirror. I suggest the use
of a slowspeed power tool to help speed the polishing. Stainlees is
hard and it will take a good deal of elbow grease to bring them to a
mirror finish. For light duty, products such as Simichrome will help.

Allister wrote:
Does anyone have any suggestions on any products that I could use to
polish these up so I can get them back the way they were? I'm
guessing that people do this every now and again to keep them in good
shape?

Usually it's not needed for stainless steel. You can clean
the inside with soap and water and a green plastic scrubber pad.
I let stuck-on animal fat soak in soapy hot water for a few
minutes.

You'll get blue or white stains on the "stainless" steel,
which will come out with a mild oxalic-acid cleanser like
Barkeeper's Friend.

You'll get hard brown baked-on deposits (it's actually
polymerized oil--you've made your own plastic!) on the
outside of stainless that will come off with an SOS pad,
hot water, and a minimum of elbow grease, and it won't
leave scratches on the mirrored outside; I don't need it
on the brushed-finish inside, though I imagine it would
affect the ridge pattern on the finish and make it look
less orderly and more scratchy.

Rough scraping with cooking tools and burner grates will
scratch stainless; there's no way to avoid that, and it's
purely aesthetic.

Normal roughening won't affect cooking at all; if you have
a lot of trouble with sticking, lower the heat, it's probably
too high. Some things you want to stick, so you have lots of
stuck-on goodies to use for gravy.

Thanks again for useful information anyone might post.

--Blair
"De nada."

B.Server wrote:
Any metal products supply house can point you to a series of abrasives
that will run from a mat finish through a mirror. I suggest the use
of a slowspeed power tool to help speed the polishing. Stainlees is
hard and it will take a good deal of elbow grease to bring them to a
mirror finish. For light duty, products such as Simichrome will help.

Actually, for the inside, they don't have a mirror finish. The
outsides do, but you can't scratch the outsides by cleaning unless
you use sandpaper or something.

I'd leave them alone. To make them look right again will require
very careful burnishing, with sandpaper or something, to realign
the scratched parts with the rest of the aligned brushed finish,
without removing significant metal that it might change the
cooking characteristics.

--Blair
"Them's the brakes."