Grandparents’ White Mountain ice cream maker

[HawkeyeScott]

We made ice cream last night in our family’s vintage White Mountain hand crank ice cream maker. My grandparents didn’t have much and the maker was something they were proud of. We used it often when the grandkids would gather around holidays. When my grandparents passed, it became mine.

All in all, it’s in good to very good shape. It does have some light surface rust, mainly on wire bands that hold the wood bucket together.

As I get ready to put it back in its box in the garage, I’m looking for suggestions properly prep it after it’s fully dried. I’ve always rinsed it well to get the salt off and then let it dry. It lives in a high desert/low humidity climate these days. As I put it way this time, I’m thinking about applying some type of oil to all surfaces, including the bucket.

Thanks for any suggestions. Happy Memorial Day.

 

[Kira]

I never thought of a food oil (olive, sunflower, rapeseed, canola, corn) as a rust preventative....but why not?
I suppose it would go rancid with time.....but you could wash it before use.

Maybe something like "butcher block oil" is different?

 

[SC Maintenance]

Pictures or it didn't happen.

 

[BHopkins]

White Mountain ice cream makers are a real treasure, particularly when they are passed down, like yours. They last so long, and using them creates great memories, like yours.

Sounds like you are doing the right things. I have put an oil finish on the wood bucket of my White Mountain, but I really don't know if it is necessary. You don't want to seal the wood too much, as the wood slats have to absorb water to expand, before you use it. Otherwise, the bucket leaks super bad, and that slows down the freezing process.

If it hasn't been done before, you may consider opening up the crank gears, clean out all the old grease and fill it with a good marine, or other type of waterproof grease.

The rust on the bucket bands is inevitable, or at least in my experience it is. All you can do is rinse all the salt off real good after each use. Perhaps someone else has some good idea how to better protect them?

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I guess I never thought about the wire rings on the bucket. I have always focused on the food touching items. I wash my bucket pretty thoroughly but it is difficult with the salt brine,

I suspect some good old WD40 would work...

Ours is electric, but yes the memories are amazing.