Gate Marked #8 Dutch Oven Revival - Part 1

Paul D.

New member
I am a new user and collector of CI. Recently, I attempted the rejuvenation of a crispy, crusty, utterly rusty, gate marked #8 dutch oven.

Below you will find several "after" images of the DO. It is surprisingly light, and it sits flat on my glass top stove. It has a heat ring, a fancy assist handle with a raised number 8, a ground cooking surface, and what I believe to be a molder's mark. The letters "MT" appear on the bottom of the pot underneath of the gate mark. The Wagner turtle back lid on top of the pot fits it perfectly.

https://imgur.com/GjgSRVi
https://imgur.com/mC9quqX
https://imgur.com/4aIbAlD
https://imgur.com/ygLcQdX
https://imgur.com/DbNqrMC

I have seasoned the DO with two coats of grape seed oil. I applied the oil after I placed it in the oven and heated it to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. I increased the temperature of the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and allowed the dutch oven to bake for at least one hour for each coat of seasoning. The color of the seasoning I achieved appears to be bronze. I would prefer it to be a darker shade, preferably black. I welcome your tips and suggestions regarding how I may achieve a darker color to my seasoning.

Below you will find several "before" images of the pot. I took the pictures before I cleaned and seasoned it.

https://imgur.com/p4aStT0
https://imgur.com/NfzJCl4
https://imgur.com/ROdv4CT

I set up a vinegar bath (for the first time ever) and went to work cleaning the DO. Because I could find no crud on the DO, I did not have to soak it in a lye bath. It took me three days to remove the rust from the pot. (It appears that the "three day rule" doesn't apply to just new relationships and to house guests.) I soaked the DO in a vinegar bath and scrubbed it regularly using steel wool, a hand held wire brush, and Bar Keeper's Friend during those three days. When I was finished cleaning the pot, the bristles of the wire brush I used to scrub it were worn down to nubs. Take a look and see for yourself:

https://imgur.com/5rKFWkZ

I found the pot listed for sale on ebay about two weeks ago. The seller agreed to sell it to me for $40.00, shipping included. Here is a link to the ebay listing for the pot: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Gate-M...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649.

After I bought the pot, I purchased a glass lid I thought would fit it. I found the lid for sale in a local thrift store. My thought was correct. The Wagner C-8 glass lid I bought (designed for use with a Wagner #8 DO P/N 1268) was a good fit, and it was priced right (78 cents total with tax). Save the "high fives." The lid has a couple of scratches and a few flea bites.

Below you will find pictures of my pot topped by the Wagner C-8 glass lid:

https://imgur.com/thTagw3
https://imgur.com/V9Ued1X

Although I was pleased to find a glass lid that would fit my pot, I preferred it to have a cast iron lid of similar age. I considered the purchase of a Wagner Ware Drip Drop Roaster lid, but I could not find one listed for sale at a reasonable price. I found a listing on ebay for an early Wagner DO with a turtle back lid that appealed to me. It has a patent date of Dec 4 - 17. The seller was unaware of the manufacturer of the dutch oven and referred to it in the title of the listing as a "cowboy kettle" and a "bean pot." Here is a link to the listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-10...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 When I expressed my concern to the seller that the bottom of the "bean pot" may be heat damaged, the seller agreed to sell the lid to me separately for $35.00, shipping included. I believe I paid a fair price for the lid. If you are interested in purchasing the early Wagner dutch oven bottom, the seller has listed it for sale here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-10...514017?hash=item3fbed425e1:g:T-IAAOSw~65cnqdD Please let me know your opinion as to whether it is heat damaged. The red area on the bottom of the pot may be only rust. I felt a little bit guilty about splitting up the Wagner DO bottom and its top. I suspect that they may have been together for a very long time (about a century or so). I am curious to know how well they fit together, but I am unwilling to pay the seller's asking price, plus the cost of shipping, to purchase the Wagner DO bottom to find out because I own a similar unmarked Wagner #8 DO bottom. I believe that my Wagner DO bottom is not as old as the Wagner turtleback lid. They fit together well, but the fit is not snug. Below you will find images of my Wagner #8 DO bottom with, and without, the Wagner turtleback lid. (I did not clean and season the Wagner DO bottom.)

https://imgur.com/hWr5rv1
https://imgur.com/lUGm65A
https://imgur.com/DdyjsxR
https://imgur.com/24EELo4
 
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