Conditioning Your Gold Pan Having a problem with that new gold pan? Is that new gold pan giving you fits? Are you watching fine gold slip right over the riffles and out of the pan? What most people don't realize is that new plastic gold pans have not been conditioned for panning. When the pans are manufactured there is a wax residue and possibly some oils left on all plastic pans thanks to the molding process. Keene Engineering Company recommends cleaning your gold pan with the solvent acetone* and fine steel wool, but using Simple Green cleaner is a safer alternative and works just as sell. Keep cleaning your pan until the water in it wets the bottom and sides and doesn't bead or puddle up. Try it! It works! [If you use acetone please follow the cautions on the container. It's nasty stuff].