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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kingswood
    Posts
    930

    Default Cast Iron Pot Flatness

    I have an induction single coil portable cooking appliance from Ikea.
    At $59 it is great value and it seems to work fine, destined for our on-site caravan.
    The only down side is it only has 9 heat steps, with steps 1 and 2 a bit too big.
    The cooking surface shows nice reflections so is acceptably flat.

    Then I got a 200 mm lidded cast iron pot for doing stews on the appliance.
    Problem is, the pot is slightly dished on the bottom making it unstable when using utensils to stir.

    Should I attempt to flatten the bottom ?
    Lathe, mill, grind, lap or scrape ?

    This a brand new pot and has not developed any patina.
    I have access to an open fire place occasionally, my plan is to use this to add some external patina.
    Any suggestions on an external coating prior to the flames ?

    Pot Bottom compr.JPG

    John

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    537

    Default

    You could mill the base flat but holding the pot down will be an issue . You could clamp on the handle tabs but cast iron can be very brittle when it's thin so I would be inclined to put blocks under the handle tabs and clamp down on that so it's held in place but the tabs are note being bent down.
    Might vibrate a bit but take light cuts . It only has to sit flat so it don't wobble. The induction heating does not require firm even contact like ordinary electric elements do. Bit of work with an angle grinder and a straight edge might suffice.
    The volume of a pizza of thickness 'a' and radius 'z' is given by pi z z a.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Bungama SA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    960

    Default

    I reckon just give it a good walloping with a hammer
    ....................................................................

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    537

    Default

    It's cast iron it could just crack or even shatter .
    The volume of a pizza of thickness 'a' and radius 'z' is given by pi z z a.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kingswood
    Posts
    930

    Default

    Scraping with an angle grinder (carefully) sounds attractive, a hollow in the centre would not affect the heating by the coil.
    John

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    473

    Default

    Brand new pot? Take it back... It should be slightly hollow if not flat...


    -russ

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kingswood
    Posts
    930

    Default

    Unfortunately, I can't take it back as it is a gift from a van site neighbour.

    I have done some work on it.
    My angle grinder was not available, so I used a Dremel clone to grind out the centre section.

    Then, a fatal mistake.
    I blued up the granite, tested it for flatness, and put in a couple of scraping cycles.
    Hooked. More cycles of test/scrape/test, then stop for the evening.
    Perhaps more cycles to come !

    A test on the appliance still shows a slight rock, not evident on the granite, so a check on appliance flatness is planned.

    Pot Flat 1.JPG

    John

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    So are you going to scrape the appliance?

    Dean

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kingswood
    Posts
    930

    Default

    Dean,
    I wish !

    The appliance is light and flexible, it could be I just have to find a flat surface to sit it on.

    John

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kingswood
    Posts
    930

    Default

    The first test stew will be at home with the appliance on the kitchen bench.
    When the pot was tested in this location - no detectable rocking, flatness problem solved.
    If necessary in the van, I can make up a dedicated shim

    Now to try and get a used patina finish.

    John

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Kingswood
    Posts
    930

    Default

    The pot at the end .....

    Photo shows first bean stew.
    Olive oil, carrots, onions, capsicum, red kidney beans, celery, red wine, water.
    No salt, sugar, stock or any other flavourings.
    To be used tonight as a side dish or potato topping.
    Wife even commented on the lovely aroma when she got back from her swim.

    Pot is impressively stable when stirred with the wooden spatula.

    Bean Stew 1.JPG

    John

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    melbourne
    Posts
    473

    Default

    Win!



    -russ

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