How do I remove handles?

[Glenn Springer]

My first attempt to clean a waffle iron. Tried to unscrew the rod, it turns then binds on the spring I think. I want to know for sure so I don't break it off. It's been through the electro a couple of times but need to disasseble to get the rest done right. Thanks for any tips.

[Lewis Downey]

I am interested in this too. I have a Stover WI with a similar handle.  Does it need to be removed? All parts seem are metal. Will anything bad happen if the handle is soaked in lye and treated in the electro?

[Tom Neitzel]

Glenn, I don't have that iron, but in looking at the handles, I believe the coil screws onto a couple threads cast into the outside of the paddle shank.  It looks to me like the rod inside is cast into the paddle.  It is not intended to be removed.  I think the coil should pop over the end of the rod as you unwind it.  Same to put it back on.

The Keen Kutter handles are similar.

As far as Stover handles go Lewis, the rod on the ones I've cleaned are also cast into the paddle and are not removeable.  The wooden handle is just held on the rod by friction.  You carefully work it back and forth while pulling it off.  Here's a link to a Stove wafer iron I had a terrible time getting the handles off of to clean.  Took me weeks of gently trying to twist, then found the right tool and got it off.

http://www.griswoldandwagner.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1422507725/7#7

Just fwiw  :D.

Tom

[Lewis Downey]

Thanks Tom!  I read your article earlier, but your Stover WI has different handles. The one I just threw in the LB has metal coil handles.  Before Picks are attached. The close-up is just a zoomed in screenshot of one of the others.

The wire handles seem to sort of screw onto or fit around the outside of WI paddle. It also seems like the rods through the middle of the grips function to hold them in place. Neither would loosen by twisting with the amount of force I was willing to apply. The current plan is to soak the WI in the LB for a while, then apply penetrating oil, and see what happens. 

Other suggestions encouraged. I am a little concerned that either the LB, the electro, or the oven could cause damage (discoloration in the case of the oven).

[Lewis Downey]

Success!

I decided to follow Tom's advice to Glen. I pulled the paddles out of the LB, grabbed the coil handle with my strong (gloved) hand and twisted. Maybe the lye soak helped a little bit, but in any case each one let go and unscrewed easily after that.

Still seeking advice for cleaning the coil handles... electro, steel wool, ???, ?

Thanks in advance.

[Cheryl Watson]

Evaporust soak... 12 - 24 hours.
Wash. Dry.
Then 0000 steel wool.
Then Mother's.

[Lewis Downey]

Thank you Cheryl.

I  am trying out Liquid Specialties rust remover. It is a product similar to but less expensive than Evaporust. The coils are soaking in that container now.  I have only had the tank active for a  few days. So far it is working in a nearly identical fashion -- starting clear, turning black, no special protection needed.  I plan to run the WI paddles through the electro but also through the chelating rust remover.

Maybe the Liquid Specialties product (sold as a concentrate, it also costs less to ship) will turn out to be false economy. Maybe other issues will occur, but so far it is working fine without causing visible damage.

Oh man. Over the summer I made an expensive faux pas.  I was cleaning a very rusty tea kettle and decided to pour some EvapoRust inside to see if it would work its magic.  Unfortunately I did not notice a small hole near the bottom of the kettle and left the piece filled with ER in a sink - instead of returning the kettle to the tub that previously held the ER.  A couple of hours later... most of my ER was gone.  At least it had been used quite a bit.  That is a mistake I will not make again.

[Lewis Downey]

The base came out of the oven today; here is the finished WI. One of the coil handles has a funky twist in it near the place it joins the paddle. Any suggestions for fixing that single twist of coil?