The Chuckbox

[Corey]

Thanks for posting up about your chuck box. Very clean and functional, lots of good ideas in it and I may attempt to incorporate one into the camper (removable kitchen). Your spice rack makes me physically ill though.

Do you know if any stain was used on the wood? If so, do you know the color? ie: Minwax Cherry, or Minwax Golden Oak. Thanks.

He he he, that little table inscribed with Mt. Rainier National Park on it has been on every camping trip I have gone on since we got it long ago.
It has been in pouring down rain, survived the wrath of chipmunks on it, it is a keeper with sentimental value.

Pat used Minwax Gunstock #231

And from Pat:

It was Minwax Sanding Sealer two coats (sand with 300-320) between, wipe with tack cloth.

Final finish was Minwax Gloss Poly, 2 wet coats (meaning the second coat was sprayed prior to final drying of the first...promotes good adhesion.

 

[Spur]

Corey,

I love the chuckbox. Any idea how much it weighs empty and full?

 

[Terrainist]

Much obliged for the stain info. It's a good color. Quite a bit of effort was put into the finish as well I see, thanks.

 

[ETAV8R]

Is the guy who made yours taking orders?

 

[Corey]

Corey,

I love the chuckbox. Any idea how much it weighs empty and full?

FedEx listed it at 48 lb, and I would say the packing was around 5 lb for the cardboard box and thick foam plates Pat used.
I gotta say, he knows how to box up stuff to make sure it arrived the way it left.

So if it is around 43 or so empty, I am guessing with the two cast iron skillet/Dutch oven, stove, plates, cups, French Press, silverware, misc, add in another 30+ lbs.
Maybe more.
I may have to load it into the rig taking out the cast iron and stove first, then put them back in again.

Much obliged for the stain info. It's a good color. Quite a bit of effort was put into the finish as well I see, thanks.

You are welcome.
Part of the pride of owning this is seeing the nice effort that was put into its creation.

Is the guy who made yours taking orders?

You would have to ask him.
I know his trailer is taking up a lot of time too.

 

[TangoBlue]

So if it is around 43 or so empty, I am guessing with the two cast iron skillet/Dutch oven, stove, plates, cups, French Press, silverware, misc, add in another 30+ lbs. May have to load it into the rig taking out the cast iron and stove first, then put them back in again.

Meh. Just hike up you skirt, bend at the knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your legs. Are we not ExPo men?

 

[DontPanic42]

This chuck box is not quite the type you are discussing but it is one of the ones we have been using for the past 5 years.

 

[Corey]

That is nice, a real antique.

A little reorganizing of the interior.
I was using a small silverware tray that I have had for awhile, but it did not have a compartment for my long slicing knife I use to slice tomatoes and other foods with.
Also the spatula and big plastic spoon used to stir soup, stir the coffee up in the French Press, ect...did not fit either.
The long knife I had to stuff off to the side.

This morning while at Fred Meyers I saw the same brand of silverware tray only a little longer and wider than the old one.
It is like Pat knew I was going to buy the new one, as the tray fits perfectly both width and lengthwise, it fills the whole space on the left lower side.

I am now able to have the items inside of the tray and not rattle around.
I only wish I could find a shorter can of the spray oils, as the can will not fit in upright with the lid on it.
I will not be transporting the can upright like that in case something hits the spray nozzle and discharges oil all over inside.
I will have to lay it on its side with the cap back on it.
I think these are the shortest cans you can get.

Much better organized now.
That is the new silverware with the bear pattern that arrived Friday from Cabelas.
Very heavy duty, this is good quality stuff.
Cabela's 20-Piece Flatware Set

Also seen is a new can opener I saw here on Expo in a thread on what else, can openers for camping
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Grips-Magnetic-Locking-Opener/dp/B0002IJETI"]Oxo Good Grips Magnetic Locking Can Opener[/ame]
What I like about it is it locks onto the can and will not come off when cutting the lid until you unlock the handle.
The lid also stays hooked to the unit via magnet until you push a release button over your trash, so you never have to touch a messy lid.

 

[Uncle Roger]

I only wish I could find a shorter can of the spray oils, as the can will not fit in upright with the lid on it.
I will not be transporting the can upright like that in case something hits the spray nozzle and discharges oil all over inside.
I will have to lay it on its side with the cap back on it.
I think these are the shortest cans you can get.

This is 7 5/8" high -- might still be too tall:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SPZV/"]Amazon.com: Misto M100S Gourmet Brushed Aluminum Olive Oil Sprayer: Kitchen & Dining[/ame]


But this one is only 6.7" tall:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026L7BNU/"]Amazon.com: Prepara Oil Mister: Kitchen & Dining[/ame]


Hope that helps...

 

[Corey]

Both links take me to Dog Appeasing Pheromones

I will have to measure how tall the upper shelves are.

I did see last week some oil misters you can by that that you put your own oil in, but the reviews were bad for it.
They said it came out in streams like water, not misty like it should be.

 

[Viggen]

I only wish I could find a shorter can of the spray oils, as the can will not fit in upright with the lid on it.
I will not be transporting the can upright like that in case something hits the spray nozzle and discharges oil all over inside.
I will have to lay it on its side with the cap back on it.
I think these are the shortest cans you can get.

Easy, tub of butter or margarine in the fridge. Itll taste better too... :sombrero:

 

[Corey]

The spray oil is to re oil the cast-iron cookware after cleaning.
Less of a mess than wiping butter in.

 

[rdraider]

Never use butter to coat cast iron cookware after washing. It being an animal product, it can rot over time and could potentially make you sick. It too normally has salt in it which can make the cast iron rust, which negates the whole idea.

As far as spray can oils, the solvents in them, i would personally not be putting in my food.

The only thing that touches my cast iron cookware, is vegetable oil, canola oil, that type thing. Anything else could lead to trouble.

Just my $.02 worth

 

[Herbie]

I only wish I could find a shorter can of the spray oils, as the can will not fit in upright with the lid on it.
I will not be transporting the can upright like that in case something hits the spray nozzle and discharges oil all over inside.
I will have to lay it on its side with the cap back on it.
I think these are the shortest cans you can get.

Two options for you:
See if you can find the small cans of "PAM for Grilling". 1st, its 100% canola oil (higher smoke point vs. the regular mixed-oil PAM). 2nd, the small cans were only about 6" tall, w/ lid. I preferred these @ home due to our fixed-shelving 1970's cabinetry. Having a hard time getting new cans lately, though.


Second option: Just put canola oil into any of a dozen different dispensers.

If you really need an atomized spray, those hand-pumped "salad spray" things for health foodies are pretty short (but I find the nozzles a bit too small and they gunk up). Another option I've been keen to try is the refillable paint sprayers at my local hardware store. They have a schrader valve for pressurizing and are stainless steel lined.

For my own cook box, I have forgone the atomized spray. I just use a laboratory squeeze bottle like this:

A vaccum nipple makes a leakproof cap and the small nozzle lets me squirt small amounts of oil when needed.

 

[Corey]

I might have to look into one of those bottles.
My top shelf I think is around 7.5" or so, just enough to clear the French Press was how I told Pat I needed it.

The Pam type of cans I am using now are the short ones I believe, as there are some that are a few inches taller.


Yes, butter not good to coat cast iron with.
All I do after cooking in my Lodge pre seasoned stuff is wipe if out with a paper towel, then spray some canola or olive oil from the pressurized cans, then wipe it around with the paper towel.

Have not washed mine with plain water in months.
Food comes right out out of them easily.
Well worth the extra weight IMO to take them camping over light weight stuff.