Vintage Pan bottom flatening

[Scorpion8]

I picked up a vintage cold-handle skillet, cleaned it all up and love it. It is kind of thin compared to my usual cast iron, but a lot lighter to pack and carry. The only problem is the bottom isn't "flat", over the years it somehow developed a bow so it won't sit flat on a table or burner. Short of pounding on it, which I do not want to do, how can one straighten out the bottom metal? I don't know of any fabricators in the area with a metal shrinking wheel (such as custom car or motorcycle folks), so what are the alternatives?

Can I put it between to heavy pieces of flat steel and use my 8-ton press? Other suggestions?

[BamaNapper]

I'm no expert, but I'll chime in anyway. It's steel, so it probably needs to be heated well before it can be flattened. If it was me, I'd ask around and try to find someone nearby with blacksmithing as a hobby. It seems a furnace and an anvil would be the right way to get the bow out of the bottom. Again, not an expert, just offering my $.02

[Scorpion8]

Thanks, all input is helpful. I was thinking along those lines, because the metal must have stretched somehow.

[country gent]

If its cast Iron it wont bend well it will crack or break. What might work if the bow isnt to bad is 3 thin steel washers spaced around at 120* Heat the pan slowly and evenly then plug braise the washers on with high temp brazing rod. Basically making 3 feet to sit on. Also when done wrap in a fire proof blanket or sand, charcoal fire in a barbecue works well both for heating it up and cool down. Build a fire of briquettes place pan bottom up in them and let heat up braze while on the coals and then over with briquettes let sit till fire goes out and is cool.

[Winger Ed.]

It was probably excess heat that caused it, and will take the same process to straighten it back out.

I'd check around and see if there are any blacksmith, metal forging sort of forums, or consult Professor youtube.