So I was browsing through Jimbos WCPP photos from last year and I came accross one of his photos where fish was being fried and I was impressed by the square pan that was being used.  I looked to be a bit more efficient at frying a mess of fish than the 10 inch fry pan I had used previously.  I sent Jimbo a message and he replied that the pan was in fact a 12 inch BWJ cast aluminum pan and it did indeed serve his crew well.  I made a mental note that I should look into getting one sometime in the future.

Well, it just so happens I was at a garage sale recently and I came across a pan that looked very similar to Jimbo's pan, with one notable exception..... it came with a cord.     Could I simply remove the heating element and convert this pan for use over fire or gas?  Looking over the pan it seemed like worthy project material, and at 50 cents I didn't have much to lose, so I bought it.  

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Almost 2" Deep
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11 1/2" square
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Handles removed and a look at the bottom
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Let the conversion begin!

I took the pan out the workbench and set out with the task of removing the heating element and the four screw posts from where the handle attached.  I started out with a dremel and small cutting wheel to cut along the weld on heating element.  I quickly decided the dremel wasn't the right tool for the job.  I got out a hammer and chisel and found I could easily chop through the weld in a couple blows, being sure to keep the force parallel to the bottom of the pan so I wouldn't dent it.  As I worked a fine grained silica spilled out revealing the inner heating coil.  I worked my way around the circular heating element weld with my chisel.  I figured I could simply knock off the screw posts for the handle with the chisel as well, but I found that these were welded on a bit more securely than the heating element and I ended up with a small ding to the corner of the pan.  I scored the other posts with the dremel before knocking them off with no more dings.  I also found the plate where the power cord plugged into to be a bit more work as well, and saved it's removal as well as the thermostat sleeve which was cast with the bottom of the pan for the angle grinder.  
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Roughly removed heating element.
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Grinding smooth
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Finished pan (Needs to be seasoned)
I found the handle at a thrift store (69 cents) and it clamps tightly while lifting the pan, it seems to be a good fit for this size pan.
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Size comparison with my still unseasoned 1930's Maytag Wringer washer lid (see BWCA threads form more info on these) and a 10" pan like the one I had been using.
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Trial Run - Popcorn!

Since this pan has a really tall lid, I figured it would also be good for making popcorn.  So I fired up the old suitcase and popped up a batch.

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Looking good
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Not bad, only a few scorched kernals.
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Still to do:  I need to season the pan so that food doesn't stick to it.  I also want to do something with the handle on the lid.  I'm thinking I might not use the lid all that often, but if I do I want the lid to nest inside the pan somewhat, which it will if I remove the lid handle.  There is just one screw holding the lid handle (and two holes to either side pegging the handle from spinning) in place and I'm thinking I could maybe just replace this with a thumb screw to make it's removal quick and easy for packing.  Another option I thought of was to make some kind of wire handle that would fold flat.  My only concern with that is I would want to seal up the holes somehow so that steam didn't rise up and burn my hand while removing the lid. A wire handle might also scratch the seaoning off the pan unless I put some cloth or something between. I also need to weight the pan, but being aluminum, it seems reasonable to carry, lighter than a cast iron equivalent.  

Ok, it's not exaclty the same as Jimbo's BWJ pan, and it was a lot more work, but I enjoyed the project and thought I would share what I have learned along the way in case anyone happens upon a similar pan and wishes to do the same.  

That’s great. I may need to keep a eye out for one of those.

Nicely done! I had my doubts early on but you pulled it off.

So I guess you won't be plugging it in any more to grill up something at home 


Ho-ray for a creative alternative to the round pans.  Just need to catch a batch of walleyes...

A note of warning about this project....

I bought an electric skillet from eBay because of this post. I purchased a model made by GE.

The heating coil was much more well made than the coil made by sunbeam. I used a chisel, air compressor, sawsall with metal blades, two grinders and finally got it done with a concrete saw.

It took me two hours to cut it out.

I'm glad I did it and I love the result. Just be careful selecting the electric frying Pan to start with....