So I've slowly been trying to get into some cast iron cooking. Especially for camping. So, due to a miscue with the wife, I know have a large ish (12" I think) pot that while now clean, is pretty rusty on the inside.
What do I do? How do I get it back to usable? I'm assuming whatever I do will be stripping most all the season off, which sucks, but I will spend a week or two and re season it. Any help and advice is appreciated! Thanks all

Have never had a seriously rusted cast iron, how bad is it? I think some fine steel wool would do a pretty good job stripping off the rust then you'll have to start seasoning it again.

SOS pad and re season

Thanks. I was hoping it was something this simple. I have a bunch of Scotchbrite from my line of work, suppose that might work?

Scotchbrite might just work. Worth a try as it might save a trip to the hardware store. I have some synthetic steel wool pads of various coarseness that I use for minor rust removal on firearms and for pulling carbon rings off the front faces of stainless steel revolver cylinders. But for metal without any real finish to speak of I just have away at it with steel wool directly.

Ah I just found this on the interwebs:
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-restore-a-rusty-cast-iron-skillet-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-203086

Steel wool or soda blasting, or sandblasting, or some other form of gentle media blasting. I've brought back several very rusted units that way. Afterwards season by whatever method you favor.

I've found soaking in 50/50 water/ white vinegar for an hour or two really helps loosen the rust. Just don't forget to take it out...

This is really just light surface rust. Had it soaking in wayer to loosen the food, and wife left lid on for about a week. Its clean now, just need the resulting rust gone. I'll try steel wool and scotch brite for now. Thanks all!

Salt and oil mix will do it too.

^^try this first

2nd the salt and oil mix, especially after cooking with it and while the pan is still warm. Also, don't forget to oil the outside, handle, bottom, everywhere. Protect the whole thing.

How so? Am I to make a paste with salt and oil and scrib the rust with that?

Basically so. The oil is to help lubricate the process and bind to the removed rust. You may need to repeat it a couple times or add more salt/oil. I use a cloth rag, although old newspapers or paper towels work just as well.

I have used a wire wheel in my cordless drill.....then once the rust was off i oiled it up and got it reseasoned. I prefer tinware ofer cast iron because of the weight savings.

Great point. I had to do this on a pot I received that needed a good bit of attention. But that is the extreme cases. Lite surface rust shouldn't need this much work.