OT: New brand of USA made cast iron

minniemoh

Anyone seen this kickstarter campaign? It's a little expensive but it looks like really nice product and I like the fact that it's made in the states. I have no affiliation other than I like to use cast iron. I like some of the design elements much better than my Lodge pieces. Now that we have a gas range, I'm using my CI skillet every day. This one looks good to me.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1397735195/stargazer-cast-iron-105-inch-skillet?ref=nav_search

Ozzie_Isaac

That looks really nice!  I really like the machined interior and forked handle.

blasting

Beautiful finish.  Like a vintage griswold.  

minniemoh

@Ozzie_Isaac   Those are my favorite features too. I just ordered one since I can't seem to score a deal on one of the vintage skillets. I hope it's as nice as it looks.

HeavyG

Nice! I didn't really NEED another CI skillet but what the heck, I really like the handle.

nolaegghead

Brilliant!

Toxarch

He said he has a background in cookware design but he just bought his first iron skillet a few years ago? That doesn't make sense. And a thinner CI skillet won't retain heat like a normal one. Even a normal thick CI heats very uneven with hot spots. A thin CI just seems like a bad idea. It looks nice, but I'll pass.

garyflintstone

Very cool.  Thanks for the information 

Photo Egg

Cool idea and design but from all the reading I have done over the last few weeks, seems like the Carbon Steel pans are the way to go. If you shop around, you can find some good deals on the Carbon Steel. Cheaper than this Cast Iron.
His KickStarter discount is not very good...

That said, about the pans, I would be very interested in some of the future products such as Dutch Ovens he talks about offering.

HeavyG

Toxarch said:

He said he has a background in cookware design but he just bought his first iron skillet a few years ago? That doesn't make sense. And a thinner CI skillet won't retain heat like a normal one. Even a normal thick CI heats very uneven with hot spots. A thin CI just seems like a bad idea. It looks nice, but I'll pass.

Well that begs the question - "What is the optimal thickness for any cast iron pan?"

HeavyG

Photo Egg said:

Cool idea and design but from all the reading I have done over the last few weeks, seems like the Carbon Steel pans are the way to go. If you shop around, you can find some good deals on the Carbon Steel. Cheaper than this Cast Iron.
His KickStarter discount is not very good...

That said, about the pans, I would be very interested in some of the future products such as Dutch Ovens he talks about offering.

The carbon steel fad will soon be gone once the hipsters move on to the "next big thing". I'm guessing tinned copper pots will be re-discovered soon.

fishlessman

high polished aluminum omelet pans are the way to go

BizGreenEgg

Toxarch said:

He said he has a background in cookware design but he just bought his first iron skillet a few years ago? That doesn't make sense. And a thinner CI skillet won't retain heat like a normal one. Even a normal thick CI heats very uneven with hot spots. A thin CI just seems like a bad idea. It looks nice, but I'll pass.

Just when I thought this forum was going to part more money from my wallet, you pulled me back.  SWMBO thanks you.

Photo Egg

HeavyG said:

Photo Egg said:

Cool idea and design but from all the reading I have done over the last few weeks, seems like the Carbon Steel pans are the way to go. If you shop around, you can find some good deals on the Carbon Steel. Cheaper than this Cast Iron.
His KickStarter discount is not very good...

That said, about the pans, I would be very interested in some of the future products such as Dutch Ovens he talks about offering.

The carbon steel fad will soon be gone once the hipsters move on to the "next big thing". I'm guessing tinned copper pots will be re-discovered soon.

You could be right, but the data and cooking characteristics are not going to change.
The Carbon Steel is not the best for all types of cooking, but for pan cooking it meets all my needs better than anything else on the market right now.
Who knows what will be invented in the future.

nolaegghead

The good old stuff is much thinner than the new crap they make.  And much of it is machined on the cooking side.

Depends on what you want to do.  A skillet isn't going to do the whole cook with the retained heat.  Thinner heats up faster, acts more like carbon steel.  Presumably you're adding heat as you cook.

I like the idea, but I have all the good CI I need.

Photo Egg

nolaegghead said:

The good old stuff is much thinner than the new crap they make.  And much of it is machined on the cooking side.

Depends on what you want to do.  A skillet isn't going to do the whole cook with the retained heat.  Thinner heats up faster, acts more like carbon steel.  Presumably you're adding heat as you cook.

I like the idea, but I have all the good CI I need.

I have an older CI with slightly higher/steeper sides than the newer pieces.
It is thiner and the inside is so smooth it's almost like glass.
It does not have a stamp on the back saying who it's made by. I really like it.
Picked it up cheap at thrift some because it did not have a big name on it.

PSC

Lodge cast iron stuff from Academy, I don't need anything else.

Abter

The CEO/founder/chief-cook-and-bottle-washer of Stargazer, Peter Huntley (who answers questions super quickly) wrote in a kickstarter response that they were aiming for a final weight for the 10.5" skillet of 5.1 or 5.2 pounds.  Their website says their product is "one pound lighter than the competition".  Anyone know how heavy a Lodge 10.25" skillet is?  Or the weight of some of the other products in this class he may be referring to?

Mikee

My Wagner CI weighs in at 3lb 14oz.

nolaegghead

@Mikee what is the diameter?

Acn

Abter said:

The CEO/founder/chief-cook-and-bottle-washer of Stargazer, Peter Huntley (who answers questions super quickly) wrote in a kickstarter response that they were aiming for a final weight for the 10.5" skillet of 5.1 or 5.2 pounds.  Their website says their product is "one pound lighter than the competition".  Anyone know how heavy a Lodge 10.25" skillet is?  Or the weight of some of the other products in this class he may be referring to?

Lodge's site lists the weight of the 10.25" skillet as 5.6 pounds.

blasting

@nolaegghead  brings up a good point.  My old griswolds don't weigh as much as my modern lodge pieces.

Mikee

nolaegghead said:

@Mikee what is the diameter?

10" model 7F

MaC122

thanks for the link! Just backed them. Got the 2nd run seasoned 10.5 skillet

Focker

I like the lip, and Wagner inspired handle.
Don't care much for the huge helper handle.

Wish them luck.  Finex makes some good stuff in Oregon, too rich for my blood when I can find them for $10 each, sometimes less.

Jeepster47

My "I don't know how old it is or what brand it is, but the cooking surface is machined" 9 inch diameter #6 skillet weights in at 3lbs 13.7oz. for what it's worth.

blind99

Love it. I've never backed anything on Kickstarter but you guys may have parted some more dough. If they succeed you can say you had one of the first. If not maybe its still a collectors item. It looks nice!

HeavyG

Focker said:

I like the lip, and Wagner inspired handle.
Don't care much for the huge helper handle.

Wish them luck.  Finex makes some good stuff in Oregon, too rich for my blood when I can find them for $10 each, sometimes less.

I'm not really into the collecting old cast iron stuff but I recall reading a few years ago that some old brands are worth more (or less) depending on when they were made. Apparently there were some big changes in the mid 1950's so much of the stuff made after that period are worth significantly less. that might be why the prices displayed seem like such a bargain.

Or maybe the old cast iron skillet collectible market bubble has burst and many prices are dropping to reflect that.

I'm guessing the hipster market is moving out of old cast iron and into old carbon steel so keep an eye out for those old French carbon steel pans at flea markets and yard sales before the market takes off.

Focker

HeavyG said:

Focker said:

I like the lip, and Wagner inspired handle.
Don't care much for the huge helper handle.

Wish them luck.  Finex makes some good stuff in Oregon, too rich for my blood when I can find them for $10 each, sometimes less.

I'm not really into the collecting old cast iron stuff but I recall reading a few years ago that some old brands are worth more (or less) depending on when they were made. Apparently there were some big changes in the mid 1950's so much of the stuff made after that period are worth significantly less. that might be why the prices displayed seem like such a bargain.

Or maybe the old cast iron skillet collectible market bubble has burst and many prices are dropping to reflect that.

I'm guessing the hipster market is moving out of old cast iron and into old carbon steel so keep an eye out for those old French carbon steel pans at flea markets and yard sales before the market takes off.

I'm good on the CS, and would take a Wags or Griswold over them any day.  They do have their place in the kitchen.  Nice to go to Amazon, or the local store, and buy a "nonstick" skillet off the rack without having to hunt, restore, and reseason the heirlooms.  

All I do know, is that the old pieces are getting harder and harder to find......at the prices I'm willing to pay.  That demand, is why you see Finex, and Stargazer in this post.  People appreciate quality when you understand the manufacturing processes involved to make these old pieces, hence the $77 dollar pricetag.  Try Googling a Finex, lol

Sad really, to see so many vintage pieces that don't qualify for rehab.   

rmr62

I stopped by the Lodge Factory store in S.Pittsburg, TN recently and picked up a couple items.  Haven't used yet, but love the pieces.  Can't wait until get seasoning done.

bobroo

minniemoh said:

Anyone seen this kickstarter campaign? It's a little expensive but it looks like really nice product and I like the fact that it's made in the states. I have no affiliation other than I like to use cast iron. I like some of the design elements much better than my Lodge pieces. Now that we have a gas range, I'm using my CI skillet every day. This one looks good to me.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1397735195/stargazer-cast-iron-105-inch-skillet?ref=nav_search

Thanks for posting and bring this to our attention.

Some are going to like it, some are not.

Most here own plenty of CI and are set in our ways, but it is always interesting to read about something new.

Thanks again