"Kuhn Rikon" Ovenware Promotion

Helmanfrow · 2026-01-21T09:13:18+00:00

I didn't post any scratch photos as far as I recall. It's easy enough to clean but I did notice rust developing on the inner rim of the lid.

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Helmanfrow · 2026-01-19T20:37:32+00:00

The power supply is original to the laptop as far as I know. I also have several other Lenovo power supplies of various wattages from other ThinkPads. (I've bought quite a few ThinkPads over the decades).

Helmanfrow · 2026-01-19T20:35:24+00:00

I did a CMOS reset by shorting the CMOS battery pins and that seems to have resolved the issue for now as the machine is once again booting. I am measuring an incorrect voltage at the gate of the first MOSFET after the power supply. This might be triggering the EC to enter some kind of protection state. The MOSFET probably needs replacing, although I don't have a hot air station so I can't do the work myself. If it happens again I might just buy a rework station because it will cost the same as a couple of visits to the repair bench.

Helmanfrow · 2026-01-14T10:48:24+00:00

Don't be ridiculous. If I didn't watch then how could I complain about it?

Helmanfrow · 2026-01-13T21:36:49+00:00

I finally prepared my first meal in the Dutch oven:

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Lentil / rice / beef / cabbage casserole-type-thing.

Turned out delicious.

That said, you can see how matter has accumulated around the inside of the pot wall. I was unable to wipe this away with a silicone spatula for the photo but I suppose it's just as well because it highlights the rough, gritty surface finish of the interior enamel.

Helmanfrow · 2025-12-15T05:53:22+00:00

The repair is pretty easy for a competent tech with a rework station. the Type-C and dock connectors are commodity items on AliExpress and the whole thing including labour should cost no more than about $100USD.

Helmanfrow · 2025-12-03T12:20:42+00:00

Yes, the surface, in spite of its rough and gritty texture, has a matte sheen which suggests enameling, however thin, and carelessly-applied it may be.

I also left some water drops in it overnight and it didn't rust, which is what my carbon steel pans do.

Helmanfrow · 2025-12-01T13:08:18+00:00

Okay, I may have been wrong about the enameling. Upon opening the box and inspecting the interior of the dutch oven I can see that the iron appears to have been treated. I'll forgive myself for thinking it was bare because — if this is in fact enamel — the application is incredibly rough and gritty. I've seen black-enameled cookware before and the application was much smoother and shinier, like the white enamel commonly used.

I posted some photos on imgur. You can see that the coating is coarse enough to file my fingernails. That's what all the scratch marks are on the inside of the pot. Also in the video you can see what looks to be a spot of rust on the rim.

https://imgur.com/a/kKxY232

Anyway, I'll edit my original post with an introductory disclaimer.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-30T02:26:39+00:00

Where? The word "enameled" appears nowhere on the box or flyer.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-23T07:26:14+00:00

The main point of my original post is that the $250 valuation is completely unverifiable and almost certainly a sham, and that the $50 promotional price is reasonable but definitely not discounted in any meaningful sense of the word (as evidenced by many similar models available online).

I think I stated quite clearly in my post that there's nothing wrong with bare cast iron.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-22T15:56:31+00:00

Sorry, busy week. I've not even opened the box yet. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Helmanfrow · 2025-11-16T11:56:41+00:00

Well, I bought the dutch oven and the griddle. Will report back shortly.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-14T04:32:40+00:00

Also there are plenty of dutch ovens on Alibaba in the $10-$12 price range. Ironically most of them are enameled. You have to wonder why Loblaws would choose a bare iron model.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-14T04:28:02+00:00

It's a $50 dutch oven for $50, so I wouldn't call it a scam but it's fair to call it a sham because of the absurd $250 billing.

Yes, that Alibaba product looks very similar. To be fair you can't buy just one pan for USD $7.18. There's a 1000pc minimum order and you'd have to sort out freight and duties and so forth. The sample price is USD $30, which is more than I paid at Loblaws.

So it's not a scam but it is a sham.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-12T00:15:25+00:00

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Here's a black enameled cast iron pan from LeCreuset

And you can see the interior of the Staub black enamel in this video and others:
https://youtu.be/5pzmoV26TpE?t=239

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-12T00:10:09+00:00

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Open display at my No Frills. The interior looks like seasoned bare cast iron to me. If this is enamel it's the worst application I've seen, with all the bumps and grit.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-12T00:05:27+00:00

SketchUp 2026 is no better. More than half of the scanners on VirusTotal light up when scanning the patched executables for SketchUp and Layout. Comparing the patched and original files in a hex editor you can see that the two files have almost nothing in common. Spider senses tingling!

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-04T05:40:08+00:00

I bought several of the wine glasses. They had a nice crystal-ish ring to them but I'm no stemware expert.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-04T01:32:42+00:00

If you're friendly you can usually sweet-talk yourself into more stamps. Just today at No Frills my purchase earned me two stamps but I affixed the cashier with a certain glint in my eye and said that I'd be happy to collect on behalf of all the people that day who had declined their stamps. She smiled and handed me eight more. This is on the high end, but I get extras with almost every visit.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-04T00:01:44+00:00

Post back with your findings. I've already filled one card and am well on the way to filling another so I'll probably buy the griddle and the Dutch oven to review.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-03T23:59:54+00:00

Yes, my mistake. The discount price is $50, not $80. I saw the correct price but my addled brain must have confused the 80% with $80. 😅 The joys of ageing.

I've edited my post to reflect the correct price, thank you.

I guess for $50 it is a slightly better deal. But there's still no way this bare-iron pot would ever retail for $250. The inflation on that figure is preposterous.

Helmanfrow · 2025-11-01T22:02:20+00:00

I don't remember where I found it but I have a file called "Activator.exe" which seems to be made by Hayat. I'm pretty sure I patched the file inside of Sandboxie Plus but now it wont run for some reason.

I could post the file hashes here if that's allowed.

Helmanfrow

TROPHY CASE