[TheForge] Frying pan question.

[Andrew Vida]

On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 20:23:56 -0500, Bob Ehrenberger <eforge@marktwain.net> 
wrote:

> I had some one request a hand made frying pan at the last event I went 
> to.
> I can get the blanks from the guy in Iowa that always runs an add in our
> news letter, but I have no idea how heavy to make the handle.  I was
> thinking of maybe making a basket from 4 pieces of 1/4" rd. I could 
> either
> jump weld it into a short piece of 1/2" rd to connect to the pan or just
> weld a couple inches of the 1/4" stock to let it transition right from 
> the
> basket to the pan.
>
> Do any of you guys have any experience at making fry pans?  Any 
> suggestions?

	Rivet them.  If the pan is heavy enough, you can use a flush
	rivet on the inside so no head protrudes.  This is a minor
	thing.  As for a basket, the idea is very good from a heat
	standpoint, but I'm not sure it would be good from the
	maintenance aspect.  The handle is constantly exposed to all
	manner of food particles (fat, Etc.).  How would the user
	get that clean?  Ten years of buildup might not be so appealing.
	I may be wrong about this.  What about rust due to constant
	exposure to water?  I have some well-seasoned iron pans and
	this is not a problem as long as I don't clean to bare metal.
	Also consider the human-factors aspect of a basket. The handle
	should probably not be round in cross section so that when the
	cook wishes to tilt the pan to pour something out of it, s/he
	will not have to fight a handle that freely rotates in the hand.

	If you look at the $$, high quality cookware, you usually see
	a flattish handle with nice smooth edges.  People have been
	cooking for a pretty long time at this point and I think the
	designs have evolved as they have for very specific and
	practical reasons.  I would imagine the best thing you could
	do is go to a very expensive shop that sells the finest
	pots and pans to be had, take careful note of the forms, the
	sizes, and the method of attachment and copy them.  I'm sure
	some artistic license should pose no problem, but I'd be
	careful not to go too far.  It's a frying pan, and I would
	consider utility above all other notions.  Also consider
	the safety of the user.  You may have NO idea who this person
	is or what they are about.  If you make a pan that is clumsy
	to handle and they injure themself, who can say what they
	may do as result (think "litigious culture").  I'm not
	trying to be overly paranoid, but liability is a legitimate
	concern.  Sometimes I'm surprised we make & sell anything
	here anymore.

	Best luck.  If you make it, I'd love to see photos.