Provided that your pot is not cracked or thoughtlessly drilled with holes for use as a large flowerpot, there is a good chance that your pot can be rehabilitated. Most larger pots have 3 short legs that are cast as part of the pot. I hope they are in good condition.
Next, if your pot was stored in a basement (or anywhere else), rust will be the prime concern. If the thickness of the pot is still in good shape, removing just the rust is the largest concern. Get in touch with a trusted hardware store veteran or perhaps an experienced retailer like say Southern States for safe rust removal products/procedures.
Following the rust removal, you will want to thoroughly clean and dry your pot. At this point your pot will need to be oiled/greased, covered, and allowed to stand as the pores absorb the oil/grease. I personally prefer to coat the inside of the pot with Crisco from a can. It spreads like grease and can be applied in thin or thick amounts. I always store our family pot in this way and closed inside of an extra-large plastic bag.
Originally Posted by: Smokey