Handles Not Memtioned Anywhere Else In These Pages ....

  
 
The "Pan Handle" story started back in 2011, when I was asked "Can you make me a couple of these"? At the time I had no idea how many handles I would finish up making.

Please Note: These handles SHOULD NOT be considered water or dish washer proof. Prolonged exposure to water WILL result in damage occurring.

I use a variety of timbers to make replacement handles, often English Oak and Ash, but I regularly have Mahogany and Iroko in stock (African and American hardwoods). These materials are hard wearing and burn resistant, and are "Fit For Purpose".

Normally I use the timber I have available when an order is placed, and unless otherwise specified, all handles are supplied sealed and varnished without any additional colour.

Nothing is ever kept in stock, all my handles, lid knobs and fittings are made to order, normally, with a very quick turn-around. Other materials can been used, but often, they are subject to additional charges. Also, if additional work is required (or if fittings need to be replaced), the customer is ALWAYS advised up front.		  
 
 
 

A Pan marked as "Victor"

      
         
     
 
   

On Thursday 8th October Ben Whittle said "I would love you to make me a couple of replacement pan handles if that is possible? I'd much rather give my money to you than whoever made our pan".

I requested photo's and the old handle and fittings. Upon receipt I found that because the old handle was in very poor condition, one of the dimensions I needed was unclear, and I told Ben what my best guess was going to be. He agreed with my guess.

Work started, and the replacements were made within a day or so. Payment was requested, and made via BACS the same day.

Having returned the pieces by first class post, I had an email from Ben on Tuesday 13th October saying:

"Just to let you know they arrived safely - and fitted first time. Great job, and thanks for the very efficient and high quality service".		  
 
 
 

An Old "Marks & Spencer" Copper Bottomed Pan

      
 
     
 
   

A couple of weeks later John came back to me asking for a new knob for the pan lid.

The job took a few days extra as I needed to get some thread inserts from "that" well known internet auction site.

Having made a good copy of the original and given it a couple of coats of varnish, I have posted this picture before John gets the new knob in the post, I hope he likes it.		  
 
 

Pans From Other Manufacturers

      
 

A request that came in where the original pan manufacturer was unspecified (hindsight tells me this was probably an old Prestige handle with a hanging loop).

The job needed to be done in Mahogany which was no problem as I had some odd bits under the bench.

When the handle was complete I sent a photo, and the only reply was "Brilliant. Will get the cash off to you via bacs".		    
 
 
 

A Well Loved And Much Valued Family Friend
owned by Chris Lordots (October 2017)

      
 
    This little job started off in much the same way as most of the things I do, an email request to replace the aging handle on a much loved pan. There was a problem with the retaining bolt, which had seized and broken off.

If it was not going to be too expensive, I offered to drill out and tap the stubb, and supply a stainless steel bolt to pull it all together. I was then informed that the pan was on the way, and could I supply two handles. It was only when the pan arrived that I found out that it had come from Cary, Illinois, in the U.S.A.

The job was completed in the normal way, and duly sent off via an international courier.

Some days later, I had the following kind words from Chris.

Thank you so much for the work you did on this pan. You did it quick, more than professional and very affordable.		  
 
  I also appreciate your quick response to my questions, you asking my suggestions, and touching base through the whole process.

The grip is better than the original. It's like having a new pan again. This thing is 70 or so years old and it's going to live to see another generation of use in my family. I made a grilled cheese yesterday for my little one and I grilled bagels this morning as I was making my kids breakfast sandwiches. If I have anything else around my house that needs fabrication from wood. I'll be coming to you!		    
 
 
   
As is often the case, I received an email enquiry, this time, from a gent named Keith Trayling.

"Hope you can help Jon. I have an old kettle and the handle needs replacing. Just wondering if you can help and what it would cost. The handle is 115mm long and 35mm at it's widest".

Having requested the original parts to work with, I made a replacement handle, sent it out to the customer, and received the following email a few days later.

"An old copper kettle, brought back to life, and it's crowning glory is Jon's handle. Your communication was excellent, your price extremely reasonable and the finished product was far better than I expected. Thanks again Jon you're a great find". Keith Trayling, Chard, (February '22).		  
 
 
 
A combined order was received for some pan handles and new parts for an old school bell.

The The bell needed a new nut and washer for the top, and a new brass ferrule made from an old 22mm brass pipe fitting.

All looking good. The saucepans were part of a wedding present sixty years ago, and an old school bell. Thank you for excellent handiwork. Bernard Johns (January 2021)		    
 
 
After some preliminary emails, a new customer agreed to send her pan for refurbishing (shown below).

Clearly, there was a significant design fault in the pan stem, which had led to the heavy pan breaking through the wooden section of the handle, and this resulted in a bent rod.

After careful consideration I made a bold suggestion to the customer. "I think we need to attack the pan stem with an angle grinder to re-shape it, get a new rod, and add a ferrule and captive nut to the end to hold it all together".

It was a bold suggestion, but it all worked out well. I was pleased with the result, and so was the customer. 		 
 
     
 
 
 

Another Well Loved Family Friend (December 2019)

      
     
 
Sometimes you never know what to expect next, and opinions on what is worth saving will always vary.
This little job was just such a case.

Clearly, the owner of this garden scoop was of the opinion that the family history value far outweighed the practical value of the scoop, and so requested that it be brought back into use with a nice new handle and ferrule, "oh!, and by the way, it needs to have a hanging loop at the end".

The owner says: "I just picked it up from the Post Office. Absolutely wonderful. I couldn't stop showing it to people in the supermarket and became quite a nuisance in the process! First Class Work And Service".
David Murphy, Kettering (December '19). 		 
 
 
  Donal O'Reilly got in touch in September 2022 regarding a frying pan which needed a significant repair.

When the pan arrived in my workshop I found it to be a 32cm diameter pan manufactured in Norway, under the brand name of Jotul.

The phenolic handle which had been mounted on the pan with a single short screw had broken, possibly as a result of being dropped, but that is not really relevant to the repair process I needed to follow.

I quickly identified the thread in the pan stem as 6mm and set about making a new Oak handle complete with a ferrule to add strength. This allowed me to make use of a full length "through bolt" with a stainless steel domed nut on the end as previously agreed with the customer.