Source for Cast Iron Pan Smooth Bottom ???

[12345678910]

We recently lost a cast iron pan in a tragic cracking incident.



I've been able to find some super cheap ones, but they are all unfinished "as cast"

I want the smooth ground finishes that are on all the pans handed down within the family.


I've read some forums and websites.
The prevailing comments are all about seasoning and that the pan will smooth out with use.

BS, it's a cost reduction issue.

Sure I could sand it down, but that won't be as flat as a machine finished grind.



Who sells good pans?
Likely an 8 or 10 inch skillet

[ac700wildcat]

Probably not going to find one new. Your best bet is to check garage sales and auctions.

[Codger_64]

I have a large local flea market where a dealer has Griswolds, Martins and other older produced cast iron, all in excellent shape. It isn't cheap, but not really that expensive either. The good stuff is also on eBay all the time and prices are not that bad if you don't mind the expense of shipping.

[willseeyalater]

You could get the word out to your family and friends. There are a lot of cast iron pans sitting on shelves in homes where no one ever uses them. Some people are intimidated by the process of keeping them ready to use, others are clueless about cooking. They might be happy to let you put them to use. Be respectful if a friend offers you a pan that is a family item, offer them a fair price. They may brush you off or accept it but you are better off having given them something for it. Once you become known as a collector and user of good cast iron the pieces will seem like they find you.
My all time best garage sale find was a Griswold waffle iron #8 with the base and wire handles all still in pristine condition....$15 was what they wanted. I had a small load of other things so we settled on $25 for the lot which was less than each added up. Have I ever used it? No, but it is in my box of precious metals with all the other pieces I have collected. I have a stack of four skillets and griddle that are our everyday users. A Wagner #8 and #10, an unmarked #10 griddle and a #10 Griswold deep frying pan but the metal is a bright finished cast iron. Someday I will have to see what the market for selling turns into. I think in some areas it is better than others. Around here prices at garage sales are low and I see pieces sitting in antique shops that never move so I would say there is not a high demand compared to supply.

[mete]

It's no problem smoothing out a pan on the inside . Get a flexible abrasive disc for a drill and do it . A little care and it will be flat as you need.

[hung-solo]

if you just want a good use that is old and machined smooth just go for any USA foundry made iron that date pre 1970's. most of your unmarked old irons were made from the top 5-10 USA foundries from back in the day (Lodge, Martin, BSR, Piqua, Griswold, Wagner, Wapak, etc).

ebay, goodwill online are places on line to find them. Check your local flea markets, consignment shops, auctions, estate sales to really get the good prices. if you see some unmarked feel free to take pics and post it either here or the other cast iron thread. ill help you the best i can.

[12345678910]

Thanks

I'll keep looking at the thrift stores.

They don't show up often and if they do, they've been selling them as collectibles rather than usables.


Mete
I'm going to buy a cheapie and give it a sanding to cover the meantime.

[hung-solo]

You could get the word out to your family and friends. There are a lot of cast iron pans sitting on shelves in homes where no one ever uses them. Some people are intimidated by the process of keeping them ready to use, others are clueless about cooking. They might be happy to let you put them to use. Be respectful if a friend offers you a pan that is a family item, offer them a fair price. They may brush you off or accept it but you are better off having given them something for it. Once you become known as a collector and user of good cast iron the pieces will seem like they find you.
My all time best garage sale find was a Griswold waffle iron #8 with the base and wire handles all still in pristine condition....$15 was what they wanted. I had a small load of other things so we settled on $25 for the lot which was less than each added up. Have I ever used it? No, but it is in my box of precious metals with all the other pieces I have collected. I have a stack of four skillets and griddle that are our everyday users. A Wagner #8 and #10, an unmarked #10 griddle and a #10 Griswold deep frying pan but the metal is a bright finished cast iron. Someday I will have to see what the market for selling turns into. I think in some areas it is better than others. Around here prices at garage sales are low and I see pieces sitting in antique shops that never move so I would say there is not a high demand compared to supply.

if your waffle irons are whole and no pieces missing and in great shape that gris will net you over $100

[hung-solo]

here is a good user pan. Wagner made approx late 40's -50's. smooth interior, cleaned and seasoned and ready to go. the price is avg since it was cleaned already and seasoned.there is some pitting but not bad. it will fill in with seasoning anyway. i wouldnt pay the $35+ shipping though. If you can this for 20-25 bucks it would be well worth it. make good starter pans. griswolds and wapak's are my favs. wapaks are cheap except the indian head ones. wapak made iron from 1905ish to 1929. i think the dates are close

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wagner-Ware-...item4d014b199e

[hung-solo]

i would drop 50 bones for this pan.. this is the last of really good Griswold's pans. After this 1940 maybe ealier the quality of the iron starts to go down with all pans. still smooth interiror. gris's are know for glass like smoothness

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLD-GRISWOLD...item27c717c13c

[willseeyalater]

if your waffle irons are whole and no pieces missing and in great shape that gris will net you over $100

wink wink, yes I know but don't tell everyone.

[willseeyalater]

They don't show up often and if they do, they've been selling them as collectibles rather than usables.

The price is higher when people buy them as "feel good" items and hang them on the wall. Even worse is the ones who paint pictures on them or make them into clocks...yikes. If you live in an area that still has a strong connection to rural and farm life then cast iron cookware is still a standard item or at least not rare so prices are not crazy high. Urbanized areas have collectors looking for primitives, country and rustic stuff to remind them that there was a place and time where life was lived slower and there was time for a home cooked meal. Those buyers are not going to care if a pan is $5 or $50 if they are wanting to buy an emotional reminder of a life they wish they could retreat to for sanity once in a while. That's why B&B's are popular.

[hung-solo]

^ all they have to do is look on ebay. our antique malls around here have their old irons at avg to high prices. they know their irons. i saw some locally that were priced pretty high. i think the demand for old irons are higher in some places than others.

[proud2deviate]

A lot of the antique stores around here have serviceable cast iron. You want to look in the older places with creaky floors and ancient assorted junk piled haphazardly on cheap shelves. The clean, well-lit showcase places have more of a mind towards old lady jewelery and profit, in my experience. The former variant is probably owned by some crusty old guy who just loves old stuff. He'd probably appreciate good cast as much as anyone.

[bear1889]

De buyer pans look on amazon mineral b pans, there is an antique outdoor market in Burlington KY at the fairgrounds where a guy specializes in cast iron cookware, all cleaned and re- seasoned.

[et45]

Lodge is still in business,you might check to see if they have what you need

[hung-solo]

Lodge is still in business,you might check to see if they have what you need

they wont. they do not make smooth interior pans anymore. most companies quit doing that back in the 70's maybe 80's. in order for the iron foundries to make bank they cut a lot of processing down. the iron is not processed as well and they quit machining the inside of the pans. ill take a lodge but it had better be pre 1970

[kamagong]

Let's try this again. I posted this erroneously in another thread.

Apparently Wagner is offering polished cast iron skillets. They look good. I haven't pulled the trigger on one yet, but I'll probably do so sooner or later.

I contacted them via the website about three weeks ago. The CS rep wrote back that they are still made here in the USA.

[12345678910]

thanks

[Stringfellow Hawke]

I contacted them via the website about three weeks ago. The CS rep wrote back that they are still made here in the USA.

Very interesting. I've always heard that Lodge is the last of the U.S. manufacturers still operating.