How flat is flat?

[miniwoodworker]

Thanks for the further info. I tend to be cautious when I start something like this, but with a propane torch I'd probably get it way too hot right off the bat.

Appreciate your advice, very much.
Lee

[Wesley Schultz]

I wonder how flat the original designers expected them to be. Has anyone ever come across any of the original detailed drawings for skillets? I wonder what kind of a flatness tolerance they called out for the skillets bottoms?

[Steve_Stephens]

I wonder how flat the original designers expected them to be.

Seeing no advantage to a slight up or downward bow I would say skillets were intended to be perfectly flat.  A few patterns do exist and they might tell us about flatness.  But there are also some pieces that seem to be ALWAYS bowed like the Martin made Ballard & Ballard No.10 handle griddle (p.211 red book) which have a significant downward bow to them.   Why?

But so many very early or late skillets are flat which leads me to think they were supposed to be flat.

Steve