Help with a wagner griddle

[Chuck Rogers]

I picked up an unused repro wagner griddle at an auction for $2. My question is this, and don't yell if I'm way off base with this. Since it is a new one and it has an unmachined surface, would it be possible or wise to try and smooth out the cooking surface myself? Possibly with an orbital sander or something like that? This may be a major NO NO in the CI cookware world but I figured I'd ask. Any help would be great.

[Ron_Wheeler]

Charles, since it's a repro and not collectible I see no reason to do with it what you feel would make it more useable for yourself.  If you do sand I would recommend wet sanding and work down to a fine grit.  Also, if you know a machinist you might try machining the surface lightly with an endmill.   :)

[Sam Roberts]

If you are going to use it yourself I see no reason why you shouldn't. IF you are going to sell it, sanding is a definite no. For example sanding a $100.00 griddle will make it worth maybe $10.00 if you can get anyone to buy it.

[Jesse and Kim Dunfee]

Charles...Let me know how that works out. I have seriously considered trying that myself on the newer rough cast Wagner to make it a better user.

[C. B. Williams]

Charles: I collect Griswold only so I'm no authority on Wagner. First, I'm not sure "repro" is correct here, because I have never seen a griddle that was a fake. Probably "unmarked " is a better term. Repros and fakes are usually found in more desirable collectors pieces. People don't counterfeit $1.00 bills. So, if it is unmarked, who knows if it was copied from a Wagner or is it just a griddle? If it is a round griddle, it was factory ground by both Wagner and Griswold. If it is rectangular, it was not ground. That said, if I bought a $2.00 unmarked griddle and the cooking surface was not as smooth as I desired, I might try and smooth it up a bit if I wanted to use it.

[Will Person]

Post a picture of it.   May just be a latter unground one.


Will 8-)

[Chuck Rogers]

Here ya go. Looks like wagner did some reproduction of the old iron. No plans to sell it. Was gonna give it to Mom

[Chuck Rogers]

Here's the box it was in

[Will Person]

No repro.   That was made 1991 to 1999 when Wagner closed there door.   It is the last stuff made.


Will 8-)

[Roger Barfield]

That's a genuine Wagner piece.  It was just made later toward the end of their production.  The casting wasn't as good and they weren't ground like the older stuff.  You won't hurt it.  These aren't highly collected.  

[Ron_Wheeler]

Yeah,  Actually made by General Housewares Corporation, 1991-1995, successor of Wagner Ware, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Wagner.  GHC made skillets, DO, and griddles all marked with Wagner's 1891 Original and most have seasoning instructions on the bottom.  :)

And Charles, for $2 you did real good.  Those make excellent users. ;)

[Lee Sumner]

Yeah,  Actually made by General Housewares Corporation, 1991-1995, successor of Wagner Ware, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Wagner.  GHC made skillets, DO, and griddles all marked with Wagner's 1891 Original and most have seasoning instructions on the bottom.  :)

And Charles, for $2 you did real good.  Those make excellent users. ;)

yep, i have a round griddle with the seasoning instructions on the bottom and you're right they are good users Ron

[Chuck Rogers]

Hey Jesse....Was working well til I ran out of 120 grit sandpaper. Maybe starting with a more course grit then work my way to the finer grit. My only concern was hitting an air pocket / void in the iron so I stopped, washed, and seasoned. It's much smoother but not like a machined piece. I think it'll work fine.

[lgg]

My girlfriend and I were having this discussion regarding the finish on the pans. Her brand new lodge skillets are as non stick as teflon and she cooks omelets in them all the time. I had it in my head that it might be better if smooth. So I ground out my 10" Lodge chef skillet using my dremel at first then wet sanding with oil down to 120 till it was as smooth as it was going to get and you know what?

She was right, there no difference. Both pans work like a cast iron pan should. The only real difference is that my pan is ugly as sin now and I expect it will be until it gets all crusty and black in a few more months.

cheers everyone, lg