Refinishing Griswold No. 8 waffle iron handles
I'm in the process of restoring a badly neglected Griswold No. 8 waffle iron (885 886 if it makes any difference). I've got all of the cast iron parts stripped down and re-seasoned and just started working on the badly rusted Alaskan coil handles. I got the majority of the rust off with a long carbonic acid bath and some light sanding with 600 grit sandpaper, but found some unexpected bright areas that almost look like the remains of hot galvanization:
I'd like to give them an authentic finish, but I can't find any information as to what the factory finish (if any) was on the handles. Does anyone know if they were galvanized, or if not, how they were finished?
Best Answer
If you are trying to obtain an even color, you can paint them with 'Stove Black' which is great for unpainted cast iron and raw metal that will get a lot of heat. It will give you a dull matt finish and can develop a nice patina. I would not put any on the waffle iron part where food will touch.
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Answer 2
They were probably originally galvanized, and you might find somewhere locally that will dip them for you for a few bucks.
As an alternative you might oil them up and season them like the rest of the waffle iron. You're not looking for a "perfect" coating like the cooking surface, but just enough of a coating to prevent rust. If it doesn't work out you could easily strip them down and have them galvanized.
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