That's [not] my pan!

December 1, 2012 6:23 AM

How do I remove engraving from an aluminum pan?

I stupidly bought someone an engraved pan and they don't want it. It's a nice sturdy aluminum cake pan, so I'd like to remove the engraving and use it myself without looking like I'm in a baker's witness protection program. Most of what I could find online seemed to suggest I attack it with sandpapers of increasing fineness. Is this the best way?

I'm looking for an at-home solution if possible. I'm also okay with it looking scratched if that's the only way to obliterate the name, but I'd prefer a cleaner method.

It's one of these:
9x13 traditional cake pans

posted by pepper bird to Home & Garden (3 answers total)

Could you have it further engraved, working the existing design into something you want? Like they do with tattoos on the tattoo shows.
posted by XMLicious at 6:47 AM on December 1, 2012

Best answer: Yep, sandpaper is the way to go. A Dremel tool with an abrasive bit would be a very quick to do your initial course sanding/grinding.

Personally, even if I already had access to these tools I'd just give the pan to Goodwill and buy myself a new one. Two variety packs of sandpaper is nine bucks, but how much is your time worth?

Or I guess another alternative is to take a straight edge and a scratch awl and cover up the name with a grid of fine lines.
posted by hydrophonic at 6:55 AM on December 1, 2012

Response by poster: Thanks, guys. I ended up buying a sanding drum for an electric drill, and used some fine grit sandpaper I already had to finish it up. It looks like something was there, but it doesn't look awful - and it took me about ten minutes.
posted by pepper bird at 12:21 PM on December 2, 2012