Huh actually didn’t think about scratching it. That sounds like it’ll work. I’ll still do the heat test to confirm but your method couldn’t hurt to try. Thank you so much for the information I’m still new to the cast iron life so the shiny spot threw me off, haha

Edit: just did the test and I guess it passed it? I added significant force and couldn’t make an indentation or a scratch on the area.

Yup but I’m gonna hold off taking a blow torch to it for now at least to not ruin it lmao

Edit: yknow what you might be onto something ignore my earlier joke. If I stick it on the stove top and heat it up it should hypnotically melt out, right? I got a laser thermometer too so I can keep track of the temp roughly