Waffle Iron 101 questions

[woodrat]

Hello all,

Hello all,

I haven’t fooled around with waffle irons yet but have magically accumulated  :o a few and need to clean them up.  One is a Wapak #7 (that would mean the diameter of the waffle area correct?) with wood handles.  How are these affixed to the paddles?  Friction fit, threaded, pinned somehow??  How do you get these apart?

Next I have some questions about a Griswold No 8 with metal handles.  First are the rods with loops threaded like the wood handled skillets?  Do you take these off to clean the cast iron?  If (when) you remove the rod with the end loop, do the spring handles screw out or pull out of the casting?

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Best,

John

[Will Person]

Welcome.   First.   #7 Wapak is not for 7"   It fits a #7 hole in the old stoves.   The eye of the stoves was numbered.  #8 waffle is for a #8 stove hole.

Wood handles are usually pined in with a nail.   I am not sure how yours are attached.  Post a picture if possible.


The metal handles that you have can be cleaned with the paddles if you would like.   You can remove them by putting a screw driver threw the eye of the handle and turn counter clockwise.   Be careful not to break it off.   How are you going to clean these?   If in the oven in high heat to bake the crust off,  you have to remove the metal handles.   The heat will take the temper out of the metal handles.   If by lye bath,  or electrolysis you can leave the metal handles on.


Hope this helps.


Will 8-)

[woodrat]

Will, thanks for your reply.  I'll try to add some pictures, first for me so bear with me.

[woodrat]

The other side

[woodrat]

Side view.

[Mike Bohannon]

John, I don't know that "ALL" Wapak WI's have this handle fit but this is the only type fit I've seen- on the 4 I have. There may be some different but this is only fit I've seen.  Hope this helps.  Mike

[C. Perry Rapier]

I'll say one think John, them ole boys have been used, for shore.  ;)

I think that as a rule, anybody wanting to start collecting waffle irons should buy one, make sure its nasty as L, and then clean that one up reeeeel good. Chances are, you won't be buying another one. I ain't too bright. I got a few of them, as for using them, ain't no way. I have me a big Kitchen aid waffle maker, makes two great big waffles lickety split. But, I am thinking of firing one of the old waffle irons up here soon though. I am getting a gas range put in and replacing the electric. I have had both so I know there is a difference.

[woodrat]

John, I don't know that "ALL" Wapak WI's have this handle fit but this is the only type fit I've seen- on the 4 I have. There may be some different but this is only fit I've seen.  Hope this helps.  Mike

Mike, thanks for the picture, that helps alot!  Looking at that are they are a pressure fit on a iron post that is part of the handle casting?  Just grab hold of that bad boy and yank it off?  Well carefully of course.  ;D

John

[woodrat]

I'll say one think John, them ole boys have been used, for shore.  ;)

I think that as a rule, anybody wanting to start collecting waffle irons should buy one, make sure its nasty as L, and then clean that one up reeeeel good. Chances are, you won't be buying another one. I ain't too bright. I got a few of them, as for using them, ain't no way. I have me a big Kitchen aid waffle maker, makes two great big waffles lickety split. But, I am thinking of firing one of the old waffle irons up here soon though. I am getting a gas range put in and replacing the electric. I have had both so I know there is a difference.

Well Perry no one said I was the sharpest knife in the drawer.  ;)  But I like to learn stuff so this was one of the things I wanted to learn more about.  As for cooking with them I plan to.  The challenge for me on that front is to figure out how do do it best on my cook top, yes it's gas...no electric for me.  The bases for these fit outside the burner on mine so they rest on the glass top, probably not a good idea.  I was thinking about using a flat iron plate on the burner and the WI sitting on top of that.  What I am not sure of is, will I be able to get the iron hot enough for that?  Otherwise I guess I'll have to whittle up an insulator to put between the glass and the base.

While I am at it, I got a heat regulator with the Griswold one.  Were these used with a WI or just something I got as a bonus?

John

PS: I got one of them new fangled lectric WI's too but just doesn't present the same set of challnnges.  ;D

[C. Perry Rapier]

John, I do not believe the heat regulator has anything to do with the waffle irons. SO, if you got one of them with the deal, yes, you got a nice bonus.  ;)

[Mike Bohannon]

John, I don't know that "ALL" Wapak WI's have this handle fit but this is the only type fit I've seen- on the 4 I have. There may be some different but this is only fit I've seen.  Hope this helps.  Mike

Mike, thanks for the picture, that helps alot!  Looking at that are they are a pressure fit on a iron post that is part of the handle casting?  Just grab hold of that bad boy and yank it off?  Well carefully of course.  ;D

John

John, yes it is a pressed fit and the post is cast into the irons. A twist and pull will often get them off.  I have had ones that were stuck and was afraid I would damage trying to get them off so just wrapped the wood handle with plastic wrap and suspened in the electro with the handle just above the solution until clean and then seasoned  the irons on the stove top.  Mike