I think I'm going to try and pick a waffle iron up in the future and was wondering what the difference is between the two base heights and how they are best used.
 
Does having a gas cook top make the choice easier or can either be used.  Thanks

I use a high base #7 I got from Chuck on a gas stove. Follow Chucks ebay sales he always has W/I coming up. You wont get it for $50.00 but it will be beautiful.

Quote from Robert Hilman on Mar 9^th, 2010, 8:24pm:

 
Thank you Robert. I do have some WI's that I'm trying to get cleened, but my 2 55 gal electros are down, and being relined, so I'm back to the 20 gallon. Can't get much in ther, and whatever it is, can't be too big. I have about 20 or so WI's that I will be going through when I get the big tanks back on line. I'll have to see what looks good after cleaning.
 
Jeff is correct. You will need a high base for the gas cooktop. I prefer the high base on my electric stove also, but have used the low base also. I have to run a higher temp for the high base, but it's harder to burn in the high base. JMHO though.

Quote from Sandy Glenn on Mar 9^th, 2010, 11:57pm:

 
I was just going off the advice I got from others. I thought it strange that it had to be high base for gas. Unless of course your gas cooktop can't be turned down that low. Mom has that issue with her gas range.  
 
I know different now. Thank You Sandy.  

My wife(Bunny) cooks waffles for a church function we use the heart and star waffle iron and the low base, we usally cook about 150 of them. On a Griswold 3 burner stove.
 

The low bases were for wood/coal stoves. With the eye of the stove removed you could just spin the paddles freely, as the paddles could spin through the eye hole. The high base works well on modern stoves, you can just spin the paddles, the paddles won't contact the burners. You can use the low base on a modern stove, but you have to lift the paddles to spin it to the other side.

Quote:

 
Paul,
 
How does the Griswold stove work for you?  And, what are you using for fuel, propane?  I've got about eight of them, one, two and three burners, low profile (short legs) and a couple that have the original taller legs and frame, some cleaned and ready to go, and some I've got to clean and paint.  I've got them to use, but haven't used them yet.  I will appreciate any suggestion or instructions on using those beauties.
 
Thanks!
 
Ray

Ed,
 I think you are talking about the high base Waffle Irons? On all the low base WI's I have, the paddles extend well below the bottom of the base when the paddles are rotated. The paddles would hit any flat surface when on a low base. The eye of the stove would have to be removed for the paddles on a low base to rotate without lifting them. On a high base the paddles rotate entirely inside the base and do not hit the flat surface they are on.

No rust just covered with crud again but I have made 8 waffles nearly every Sunday for that last two and a half years!!

Quote from Dwayne Henson on Mar 10^th, 2010, 2:10pm:

 
Hmm, so the real reason for high base was to be able to spin the paddles without lifting out of the frame on a gas/electric range?? For some reason I thought it was to allow more air space to prevent burning or to keep from snuffing out the gas flame. I have a couple I need to play with haven't gotten around to that yet. Both are high base #7 Griswolds. I saw another post where someone was just using there WI in the oven at 350 degrees. That would eliminate the hi or low base decision as both would work the same.