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Cast iron repair

 
pollinator
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Location: Western Washington
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Gah. So I have a habit of running through the house and grabbing on to the molding around the doorways between rooms to do pull ups and trunk lifts. The law of averages final struck to my detriment and I biffed it hard missing my finger hold and coming down backwards catching an overhanging pan handle on the stove. I got a face full of a covered pot of beet/nettle/duck broth I had forgotten about and had been sitting for probably two weeks. Most fucking foul. Worst of all though I broke my Cast Iron Skillet. It's one of my most used items dammit. The handle sheered clear off. Anyone have suggestions on fixing this that doesn't involve welding? Alright I guess its time to clean the kitchen and try to get this wretched stink out of my nostrils.
 
pollinator
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Landon Sunrich : Its hard to imagine not warping your pan as you try to reattach a handle, most people today do not know How to Weld on Cast !

My best suggestion is 1st welding gloves, 2nd checking out several Commercial grade Pizza Pan ( heavy Deep Dish ) grabbing handles, perhaps
with a little careful bending you could - Oh Yah ! That's kinda how you got here in the 1st place !

Good Luck and Good Hunting ! Big AL !
 
pollinator
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VICE GRIPS.

And you are lucky it didn't break the pan itself, or your face.
 
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Finally something I know a little bit about....
There are high nickel welding rods that will stick to cast iron, but the weld is so much stronger than the base material it will usually crack beside the repair due to internal stresses.
A more permanent repair involves brazing with brass. The repair is about as strong as the base so it will last, but there is a concern about the brass' toxicity.
Perhaps the best option is to rivet a new steel handle on the stub and accept the new "style" of the handle.
 
steward
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Not fixing broken cast iron / welding but this technique can help to extend the use of cast iron cookware:

 
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This will go against what most will tell you. I will not say why but you may figure it out yourself!

 First clean the pieces well, needs to be clean clean and totally oil free! Second heat the pieces up to around 550-600f then weld with nickel welding wire or in a pinch with a nickel stick. I strongly prefer MIG welding over stick welding myself. Now for the IMPORTANT part you MUST cool the piece SLOWLY so the metal around the weld doesn't crack.

In my years I have found wood ash, warm / hot wood ash is best. Take the just welded piece and lay it on / in a thick bed of ash and cover with another thick layer. Then let it cool until the next day.  

My last big cast iron repair was a large farm bell that was cast in the 1860's. It had hundreds of cracks and thunked  instead of rang. After weeks of repeated work welding and grinding it finally rang true again and went back to the farm it was cast for in the 1860's.

Good LUCK!

 
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