Score!

[Russ in California]

A friend's mother passed recently and I became the new owner of a 12" Balto dutch oven converted to stove top use. Realized a PO removed the legs(oh the tragedy) and after some cleaning I found

Seems to go all the way through.



More here: http://www.4wdlinks.com.au/gallery/album894

[devigata]

What a bummer. Did you get a lid? You could make pizza out of it if turned up-side-down.

[sdtripper2]

Season it uP and use it for rolls or bread

[doitright]

I know how you feel I have a spider that has a crack around the handle. But what the heck it is the best pot I have holds the seasoning better than any pot I have. I use it all the time and will not let anyone touch it. If it breaks all the way I will do it and can not blame others. Sure it has its problems but use it and use it when it goes just think of all you have cooked in it.
Kevin

[starleen2]

Ya' do know that Cast Iron CAN be welded (had it done on an old Singer sewing machine)- let's face it, someone did cut the legs off in the first place

[Russ in California]

Ya' do know that Cast Iron CAN be welded

Now don't be fresh.
I do know that but wasn't sure about it's application with 'cast iron kitchen furniture'. It's not just a matter of welding it with what ever.
I think nickle rod need to be used so nothing leaches back into the food?
My fatherinlaw can do this so I'm going to clean it up, buy a carbide bit and chase the cracks and have him sink some nickle rod into it and hope for the best.

[Kevin A]

Russ,

Do you have a pic of the bottom of the pot? It looks like a gate mark on the bottom, but it's hard to tell from the angle of the pics. If you do get it repaired, you can use one of these under the pot to raise the pot for coals.

[eamarquardt]

If you get down to So. Cal. (Ventrua County), I'll Vee it out and weld it up for you. I've welded a few pieces of cast iron and found it to be no different than welding other materials (but I'm sure there is a piece out there that will prove me wrong!). I bought some cast iron rod ($50 for what will probably be a lifetime supply), I break the flux off of it with a hammer, and then TIG weld whatever I'm trying to fix. Seems to work.

Cheers,

Gus

[Russ in California]

What's a gate mark?

[Kevin A]

Russ,
Here's a description of a gate mark followed by a picture and a link to the website where I found the information. Hope it helps.


"This next generation of cast iron, beginning around the mid 1700's, have a "gate" mark, which looks like a long thin line on the bottom of the piece. This is where the iron entered the mold, and the technique lasted from the mid-1700's to the late 1800's or so. Pieces made around 1875 to the present time were engineered so the iron entered the mold from the sides. It entered usually in two places, sometimes opposite one another. These pieces have a smooth bottom. Current techniques have the iron coming in from the side, so look for one or more places on the sides of the iron pot with heavy grinding marks where the iron entered the mold. The grinding is done to finish the piece so that no unsightly burs or roughness mars the surface. This is a fairly modern development brought about by the ability to cheaply grind ironware. This would have wasted too much valuable time and been next to impossible for an 18th or early 19th Century founder to carry out."

http://www.ramshornstudio.com/iron_218d.htm

[Russ in California]

Yes, gate mark. I saw that site earlier tonight. Good info.

[FireLion]

Is this a gate mark (the one on the right)? Or just a flaw?

[RAYVILLIAN]

I just torch welded some bolts on the bottom of a cheap-o Cummins tool 10" today. I got tired of messing with a homemade trivet to hold it up and figured what the heck the pot only cost me $20 to start with if I blew it I didn't lose much. Used coat hanger for rod the trick was to not let the bottom of the pot blow through.

Gary

[Russ in California]

I just torch welded some bolts on the bottom of a cheap-o Cummins tool 10" today. I got tired of messing with a homemade trivet to hold it up and figured what the heck the pot only cost me $20 to start with if I blew it I didn't lose much. Used coat hanger for rod the trick was to not let the bottom of the pot blow through.

Gary

That's rich. I love it.

[ironhead]

Is this a gate mark (the one on the right)? Or just a flaw?

+looks more like a casting flaw or reproduction IMO