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Reproduction Waffle Dog Irons

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:35 pm
by eamarquardt
I went to Southern California's San Fernando Valley today and stopped by the Sheehan foundry to see how much it would cost to have the two halves of a waffle dog iron cast using an original as a pattern.

The fellow said that he'd have to use certified "food grade" aluminum (which he happens to have) that is free of lead, arsenic, cadmium, plutonium, and spent uranium, just to be on the safe side.

He quoted $35 per pair of castings (one waffle dog iron). To end up with a functioning waffle dog iron one will have to drill six holes, tap two of them to 1/4-20, use screws and nuts or rivets to hold the two halves together, obtain two 7" 1/4-20 carriage bolts, some wood dowel with a 1/4" hole though it, and a couple of push clips to keep the wood dowel handles in place on the carriage bolts.

One would then have a very passable replica of a genuine waffle dog iron. The reproduction casting would, though, be 1% smaller than the genuine article (although it would take a real expert to notice this discrepancy) as a result of using an original as a pattern and the molten aluminum shrinking 1% as it cools in the mold.

So, with shipping, maybe some tax, and the additional materials one would need to purchase, and a bit of time, it is possible to have a reproduction waffle dog iron for about $50. If anyone is interested, PM me with an email and we can move forward. I'd be willing to get the castings together, provide some instructions, and ship them out by the most cost effective means.

Unfortunately casting small numbers of an item using an original as a pattern is labor intensive.

I'm not entirely convinced that it would be a better alternative than scrounging or shopping EBay. As we know, the last EBay unit sold for over $90.

Cheers,

Gus

PostPosted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:44 pm
by DragonFire
I'm thinking about it....I know they are still out there in the wild...but $50 is about what I'd be willing to pay on evilbay...

Let's see what others think of the idea. It's a good idea..and I'm glad you threw it to see how it sticks. Hopefully it will allow the T&TTT folks to have WD and the antique dealers selling to the Hawaiians can keep jacking up the prices..and we will be set. At least we will have an iron to start with..and if you can go big time with it and have someone do packaging, etc it would be better...

Can the foundry carve T&TTT in the mold? So ours would be unique to this forum?? That would be cool.. :thumbsup:

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:13 am
by Ratkity
Sending PM!

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:49 am
by wired
Well I am considering it. $50 is a bit more than I was figuring, plus, I LIKE plutonium in my waffle dog!

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:35 pm
by logman7777
I know I have already made my interest known but sign me up for 2 finished or unfinished when it all comes together..

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:04 pm
by Big Dan
What about the patent. Will that be an issue for sales? Or is the patent void do to the fact that they are no longer in production?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:18 pm
by eamarquardt
Big Dan wrote:What about the patent. Will that be an issue for sales? Or is the patent void do to the fact that they are no longer in production?


Patents are valid for 25 years so the patent has long since expired. I plan on poking around on the internet to see if I can locate anyone associated with the patent.

Cheers,

Gus

PostPosted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:55 pm
by Catherine+twins
I'm still in for one.

Now, of course, you need to put up a web page like the one for the repro Tostites, http://www.toastite.biz/?gclid=CIu5-aPd ... hwodqDYHCQ. Hopefully the ebay crazies who push the Waffledog prices above $100 will beat a path to your door!

8)

Catherine

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 1:11 pm
by wagondude
I'll have to run it up the flagpole to see what SWMBO says. She knows I'm looking for one, was just hoping I could get one for $30 or less. All the hoarders...er...collectors here have driven the price way too high for my cheap butt.

Bill

BTW, thanks for looking into this.

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:51 pm
by hazelc
I want one too. Just let me know the whats and when fors
when all this gets to the buying stage.
Hazelc

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:19 pm
by doug hodder
wagondude wrote: All the hoarders...er...collectors here have driven the price way too high for my cheap butt.
Bill


I don't think anyone is hoarding and I think there is only 1 person with 2 on the TTT forum and he stumbled onto the 2nd one, we're just beating the drum on it all......Doug

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:22 pm
by DragonFire
He didn't stumble, he's just lucky! :lol:

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:25 pm
by Dean in Eureka, CA
And we beat the drum very well...

PostPosted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:27 pm
by doug hodder
Waffle iron, waffle dog, Coleman stuff....many drums to beat....Walking Eagle

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:07 pm
by wagondude
doug hodder wrote:
wagondude wrote: All the hoarders...er...collectors here have driven the price way too high for my cheap butt.
Bill


I don't think anyone is hoarding and I think there is only 1 person with 2 on the TTT forum and he stumbled onto the 2nd one, we're just beating the drum on it all......Doug


I was just joking about the hoarding (we all know that's just the Coleman stuff :lol: ). I'm good to go so will PM my info shortly. Now I need to begin my search for my b-day lantern.

Bill