Consider the picture below.
The waffle iron just fits on the pan ring of the No.1 which dishes out more than enough heat to get the iron up to a good waffling temp. However, by the time the corners of the waffles are done to a nice golden brown, the middles are rather too well done. Would a corrugated disc type diffuser sort this out, or perhaps a slab of cast iron or steel between panring & iron.
I would welcome any ideas & views on this.




Ian

I have the same problem with mine. My iron is circular shaped rather than square, but I get uneven doneness in the waffle. Just a guess, but it sounds like your heat diffuser idea would work. Where does one get a sheet of steel? Any chance this would cause the stove to overheat?

I picked up a round, handled, 2mm steel griddle in an Indian bargain store yesterday. It's flat but for a very slight dishing at the edge and it's the very thing for pancakes. I'm going to try putting it on the stove between panring and waffle iron and see if it helps.

GUYS...
just move the waffle iron around on the burner.when i make
fry bread i keep the frying pan in motion and the heat low.
it cooks an even brown and all the way thru..same with the
re-hydrated eggs with rice and pancakes.these kero-burning
stoves are lead melting blow torches that are tricky to cook
over..which is why i like the big soft flame that a coleman
peak one puts out

I'll go along with the gentler heat, but as for moving the iron about on the panring; a) the iron causes the stove to become unstable when it is not more or less central on the panring (It doesn't have to move far to get the CG outside that triangular base), & b) keeping hold of a frying pan whilst you move it around over the flame is one thing, executing a similar manoevre with a 10lb. waffle iron is a different baby altogether.

Ian

the sort of thing you are looking for?

http://www.abtelectronics.com/scripts/site/site_product.php3?id=2772

Tad expensive but a google search on simmer plates brings up quite a few variants, we even have a cheap multi perforated version in our local hardware store for ordinary gas hobs.

Didn't the grill plate from Index work which you posted pictures of previously, or doesn't it get up to temp. Will probably look at aquiring an index one as they appear to work really well.. can't go wrong at that price.

Simes

GUYS--if i had known the irons were heavy weights i would have
kept my idea to myself..i can see why your looking for a heat
spreader--hummmmm..how about..a old cast iron frying pan turned
upside down..

http://fantes.com/trivets.htm#flame
Trivets, Heat Diffusers and Pot Holders

Look at the forth one down. I use them all the time with great success. Let me know how it works for you. Gordon

Check out the stove top waffle maker toward the bottom of the page. With the heat convection of aluminum you are less likely to have hot spots and they are definately lighter.

http://fantes.com/waffles.htm#stovetop
Waffles

Gordon

"... if i had known the irons were heavy weights i would have
kept my idea to myself."
Perish the thought!
One of the most attractive things about forums is the exchange of ideas and views which develops in them.

The $46 cast iron diffuser is an appealing job but as I have to replace one of the hotplates in our domestic electric stove soon, I think I will try using the old one as a diffuser.
To be honest, I never thought of using the Index griddle. It would be no good at breakfast time, though, as it's laden with other breakfasty things then. BTW I can't sing it's praises enough. For another weekend it has been my primary cooking utensil. Wife now wants me to use one at home too. It does a sterling job on duck breasts but will need drain plugs fitting in the fatcatchers as these two filled them several times over (duck's like that)



Ian

An attractive item - how heavy is it?
Fantes don't appear to ship outside the 48 and I dare say the postage would be quite a bit.

Ian

Ian, Getting back to basics here.
I think you have 1 of 3 ways to go.
1) when your waffles burn are you putting them in with the iron hot or cold? I think you could be useing a hot iron. Check what happens with a cold iron.
2) Why not fit a reglating burner to your stove.
3) all other sergestions that has been made
Albert

I've never tried my aluminum waffle maker on my primus. Would there be much of a difference between a maker made of aluminum versus cast iron? Mine is like the following:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11655&item=6107530870&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

These are very common items to find at garage sales around here which is where I got mine. Many buy the maker, but few mix the batter.

Ian, if you keep posting photos of meals on this forum I'm going to wind up hopping the pond and inviting myself along on one of your outings.

Aluminum conducts heat faster than cast iron, so it should heat more evenly, if it's of equal thickness.

You can make a good simmer ring for this out of 2 to 4 mm copper or alum plate. Both these metals are good conductors of heat and will work well. They're available from most metal supply places. We have a store in town called "metal supermarket" that caters to small time metal users like us all.

J

It is composed of two layers of perforated steel. Each layer is about the thickness of a paperclip. It is plenty strong to hold pots, pans, etc. but is light enough to be a back packing item if you chose. Gordon

Will the heat from the stove caused an aluminum heat difuser to warp and thereby making the waffle iron not sit flat on the stove?

It could. If you cut slits radially in to say 1/3 to 1/2 way in the diameter, say 4 or 5 slits, this would aleviate the strain. Like the slits cut in a circular saw blade.

J

I have always had the best luck using the lid from a tin can. After you open a can you have that nice disk. Watch out for sharp edges. I suppose you could cut the bottom out of a can and leave the seal rim on. A coffee can (about 6 inches) is just right.

Earl

That has got to be the best idea if you don't want to carry simmer plates etc.

The next chance I get I am going to try, the simplest are always the best.

Was going to suggest a piece of wire mesh that we always used in chemistry on the top of bunsen burners as an alternative, will post a pic of a home made version when the camera batteries are recharged.

Simes