Restoring wooden handles?

[Chuck Rogers]

I have a couple of WI's that I've cleaned and seasoned but the handles need some help. The finish on them has rubbed off and I'd like to get them looking as nice as the rest of the WI. Will this affect the value? Any suggestion? Also, if a wooden handle is broken, and I want to remake one, what kind of wood was used on them? Thanks to all. Chuck

[Sam Roberts]

I don't know if refinishing the handles would affect the value or not. If you do refinish I wouldn't recommend anything that would remove any of the wood (sandpaper) but instead, probably a gel stripper. An educated guess on the type of wood for the handles: Maple

[John Knapp]

Chuck,  I don't think restoring the original handles will affect the value one bit.  I have seen them with and without being redone and personally,  I sorta like the refinished ones better.  As for the wood....Griswold used anything and everything that was available when they needed wood, the only types of wood they did not use was soft woods...  I know for a fact that they used oak, cherry, maple.
John

[Will Person]

I kinda was wondering the same thing.   I am trying to collect the wood handle aluminum skillets and was wondering what to restore them with.   What should you paint them with?   Semi gloss black?


Will 8-)

[Charlee]

I'd use an enamel semi gloss....heat resistant if you can find it.

[Greg Stahl]

Those wood handles on the w/i's missing or replaced do not affect the value.  I know I have a #6 Selden/Griswold round w/i and one of the 'big' collectors would like to get it from me, but I refuse to sell it to him.  It is missing both wood handles.  I agree with John, just replace with hard wood and you are all set.

Sorry I have not been on much, but I've been pretty sick.  Just now feeling a little better, but still under the 'weather'.

[Chuck Rogers]

Good to hear you're feeling a little better Greg. Been dealin' with a chest cold myself. Slowin' me down a bit but I'm not out yet. Still managed a few auctions the past couple of days. Picked up a Gris #8 ERIE slant logo DO with lid, a Wapak #8 skillet, and a couple of Wagner #3's. Wapak and the 3's are in the tank, along with a 4 place flop griddle that the wife picked up a few weeks ago. Can't wait to see how that one looks. Just about caught up with cleaning and seasoning, but I'm sure there will be more.  :)
     Was wondering if tung oil would do for refinishing the handles or should I stick to a polyurethane or sometjing like that?

[John Knapp]

Griswold never used tung oil or polyurethane, if you want to screw it up then use that stuff.  Griswold waffle irons had black paint.  Now if you had a Wagner piece, then tung oil would work and would be authentic looking but never polyurethane.

[Chuck Rogers]

Certainly not looking to screw anything up John. I want them to be as authentic as possible. I fugure if I'm putting all the effort into restoring the iron part, might as well do the same for the wood pieces also. So it's tung oil for Wagner, and black enamel for Griswold.
     Any ideas on what Wapak used. I'm guessing the same as Wagner by the looks of what I have here.
     Is there a chance we could set up a section in here for the restoration and care of the wooden parts associated with cast iron? I've been looking around in here and haven't found anything about it yet. Just a suggestion. Then I wouldn't have to bother anyone with all these questions.

[John Knapp]

No bother at all with the question s Chuck, thats what this is all about; for all of us to learn.  There isn't much information around on the restoration of different pieces, such as the W/I handles, wooden bases for the coffee grinders, food chopper stands, etc.  Also, the restoration of the hotel W/I bases....some of them I have are pretty pitted so I throw a nice coat of gloss black on them and bake it. We might make a sub chapter on restoring wooden parts in this section or even move it to the "dark side".

[John Knapp]

I don't think you could ever get the replacement to look like original equipment.  I have seen on Ebay replacement Wagner bails that I believe are new old stock.  Never saw any Griswold though.
John

[jimeats]

Wire bail handle for a D/O I've used a cut down bail handle off a mud bucket, joint compound, with good results.
I'm working on a replacement handle for a flop griddle useing a maple ballester cut down to 4in. Jim

[Gerald Melsheimer]

FYI, Lodge sells wire bail handles.    Jerry

[C. Perry Rapier]

Wire bail handle for a D/O I've used a cut down bail handle off a mud bucket, joint compound, with good results.
I'm working on a replacement handle for a flop griddle useing a maple ballester cut down to 4in. Jim

Can somebody tell me what a "maple ballester" here is?  :)

[Tom Neitzel]

Is it one of those things you put between the upper and lower rails on a staircase?

Or maybe a maple ball starter for black powder firearms?  Would make a weird looking handle though.

Tom

[jimeats]

Tom is right, I may have mis-spelled it, I do that often.
I picked up some during a house restoration a friend was doing.
Nice to find them in maple and thought I may have a future use for them. What the heck, don't have to feed or clothe them so may as well keep them.
I have an old foot lathe that I may try turning it on. Jim

[C. B. Williams]

Being a woodworker for all of my adult life, I would tend to use maple for the turning. It has a fine grain and will give a smoother product than oak. If you use oak and want a smooth finish, it will need to filled with a wood filler before applying the finish. The cherry will fall between the maple and oak. It is a very quick and simple turning for anyone with a lathe, maybe 30 minutes.

 I want to add something to the above post.  All maples and all oaks are not the same. But for simplicity since these are to be painted, any close grained hardwood will work well. Oak, especially red oak is not close grained. Hard maple, Walnut, Cherry, Birch, etc, will all work well.
Also, a baluster, cut off, will work Ok, but only if you can find one with the right diameter and taper. I would not be that lucky.