Restoring a free weber kettle

AJP · 07-06-2011, 03:44 PM

Was driving down the street and I saw a weber 22.5" kettle in a guys driveway and what appeared to be a brand new one in the box. Stopped and chatted with him, confirmed he had just bought a new OTS 22.5", asked what he wanted for the old one, he said take it I was gonna throw it out.

It isn't the prettiest Weber out there but hey for free why not. The first thing I noted was that the bottom had a wood handle and the top had the plastic. Upon further inspection the bottom is date coded ER (1996) and the top is DU (2002). The bottom is also missing 2 daisy wheels so there is no real way to conserve the date code sadly. It was bent a little here and there but if you do it right the top fits on the bottom. There are a few spots of rust but over all it is in fairly good shape.

First thing I did was take the plastic handle of the smokey joe in the garage and change it out for the wood. So I now have 2 plastic handles on the kettle and one wood on the joe. Next I called Weber and ordered 3 new daisy wheels and the missing ash catcher. When the parts get here I will update with pics.

My question is for the rusty part would it be best to sand it down some and paint with glossy high temp grill paint? Also in the future I plan to order some of those fancy wood handles that Marty Leach sells, but it isnt in the budget right now. Also what is the best way to clean this up it has a ton of burnt on goodies here and there.

Harbormaster · 07-06-2011, 03:53 PM

Where the handle is pushed down into the lid, if you put the lid upside down on a 5 gallon bucket and press good and firm on the inside of the lid where the dent is it should pop right out.

Free is a good score.

AJP · 07-06-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harbormaster

Where the handle is pushed down into the lid, if you put the lid upside down on a 5 gallon bucket and press good and firm on the inside of the lid where the dent is it should pop right out.

Free is a good score.

Good tip, I was wondering how to tackle that.

Johnny_Crunch · 07-06-2011, 03:55 PM

Nice score!

Grain Belt · 07-06-2011, 04:09 PM

An overnight soak in Easy Off oven cleaner in a plastic leaf bag is a winner for getting off the crusties. A wire wheel on a drill will take care of the rest. I like to put small stainless bolts with washers, nut side up, on the lid handle when fixing up an old timer.

AJP · 07-06-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grain Belt

An overnight soak in Easy Off oven cleaner in a plastic leaf bag is a winner for getting off the crusties. A wire wheel on a drill will take care of the rest. I like to put small stainless bolts with washers, nut side up, on the lid handle when fixing up an old timer.

I was hoping to avoid the wire wheel for now, don't want to ruin it.

DaveMW · 07-06-2011, 04:50 PM

Here is a link to my restoration of my Weber Kettle. Toward the end I go through each procedure that I did and those that I didn't do but wished I had. Any questions just send a PM and I will be glad to share anything I learned from mine. Great Score! Good luck with it.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=89922

Grain Belt · 07-06-2011, 05:35 PM

The wire wheel doesn't hurt kettles a bit. I have restored over a dozen kettles and have always been amazed by the finish on a weber. The only way you can hurt the darn things is to let ash get wet and sit for a long, long time. But it's your kettle and if you don't want to use a wire wheel than don't. But they do a great job cleaning them up and quickly.

BikerBryansBBQ · 07-06-2011, 05:59 PM

I always pick these up on Trash day/Spring Clean up day. For some reason here the legs tend to be broken, so I get steel car wheel and set the kettle in the wheel. makes a great set up for camping we build a camp fire when it burns down you add the grill and you can cook your whole dinner on it!

The Boy Scouts in our troop loved it! No more wet ground and hard to light fires!

AJP · 07-06-2011, 06:30 PM

Didn't really have the cash for it but figured it was worth it. Ordered two of the custom made wood handles.

http://www.amlwoodart.com/contact.html

AJP · 07-11-2011, 06:44 PM

Got my handles in today. If it wasn't 105 outside I would be able to work on it.

martyleach · 07-11-2011, 06:53 PM

Can't wait to see the finished Kettle! By the way, nice handles!

AJP · 07-11-2011, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

Can't wait to see the finished Kettle! By the way, nice handles!

If you need a set I know a guy

07-06-2011, 03:44 PM	#1
AJP Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-01-10 Location: Manhattan, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Restoring a free weber kettle Was driving down the street and I saw a weber 22.5" kettle in a guys driveway and what appeared to be a brand new one in the box. Stopped and chatted with him, confirmed he had just bought a new OTS 22.5", asked what he wanted for the old one, he said take it I was gonna throw it out. It isn't the prettiest Weber out there but hey for free why not. The first thing I noted was that the bottom had a wood handle and the top had the plastic. Upon further inspection the bottom is date coded ER (1996) and the top is DU (2002). The bottom is also missing 2 daisy wheels so there is no real way to conserve the date code sadly. It was bent a little here and there but if you do it right the top fits on the bottom. There are a few spots of rust but over all it is in fairly good shape. First thing I did was take the plastic handle of the smokey joe in the garage and change it out for the wood. So I now have 2 plastic handles on the kettle and one wood on the joe. Next I called Weber and ordered 3 new daisy wheels and the missing ash catcher. When the parts get here I will update with pics. My question is for the rusty part would it be best to sand it down some and paint with glossy high temp grill paint? Also in the future I plan to order some of those fancy wood handles that Marty Leach sells, but it isnt in the budget right now. Also what is the best way to clean this up it has a ton of burnt on goodies here and there. __________________ UDS, 22.5" 1996 Weber Kettle, 37.5" Weber Ranch Kettle

07-06-2011, 03:53 PM	#2
Harbormaster Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-14-06 Location: Wyocena, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Where the handle is pushed down into the lid, if you put the lid upside down on a 5 gallon bucket and press good and firm on the inside of the lid where the dent is it should pop right out. Free is a good score. __________________ Clark My Boys: Joseph (EI); Andrew (EE); Daniel (EE) My Toys: 10 WSMs (B, C, DH, DA, EZ, DZ, EO, DU, DR, EE/DU mutt); Brinkman Cimmaron; Chuckwagon Cooker; 22.5" OTG (DT); Two 22.5" Bar-B-Kettles; One 18.5" Bar-B-Kettle; Smokey Joes (A, K); Genesis Silver C (DU); 3 WGAs (EZ, DE, N); 3 SJPs (DT, DU, DR). "For when democracy becomes tyranny, those of us with rifles still get to vote"

07-06-2011, 03:55 PM	#4
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice score! __________________ J Crunch

07-06-2011, 04:50 PM	#7
DaveMW is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-31-10 Location: Edgewood, Kentucky via Livngston, Montana Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Here is a link to my restoration of my Weber Kettle. Toward the end I go through each procedure that I did and those that I didn't do but wished I had. Any questions just send a PM and I will be glad to share anything I learned from mine. Great Score! Good luck with it. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=89922 __________________ In a perfect world every lab would have a home and every home would have a lab. There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. Weber Kettle 22.5" Restored "J" - Black Weber Smoky Joe "F"- Black Weber Genesis - Black (CL Score - brand new) Weber Go-Anywhere - Black UDS which surprisingly is not black Great Outdoors Smoky Mountain Smoker

07-06-2011, 05:59 PM	#9
BikerBryansBBQ Found some matches. Join Date: 07-06-11 Location: St.Louis MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I always pick these up on Trash day/Spring Clean up day. For some reason here the legs tend to be broken, so I get steel car wheel and set the kettle in the wheel. makes a great set up for camping we build a camp fire when it burns down you add the grill and you can cook your whole dinner on it! The Boy Scouts in our troop loved it! No more wet ground and hard to light fires! __________________ Biker Bryan's BBQ Smokin' to Please! https://www.facebook.com/BikerBryanBBQ

07-06-2011, 04:09 PM	#5
Grain Belt Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-11-09 Location: Northern MN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	An overnight soak in Easy Off oven cleaner in a plastic leaf bag is a winner for getting off the crusties. A wire wheel on a drill will take care of the rest. I like to put small stainless bolts with washers, nut side up, on the lid handle when fixing up an old timer.

07-06-2011, 05:35 PM	#8
Grain Belt Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-11-09 Location: Northern MN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The wire wheel doesn't hurt kettles a bit. I have restored over a dozen kettles and have always been amazed by the finish on a weber. The only way you can hurt the darn things is to let ash get wet and sit for a long, long time. But it's your kettle and if you don't want to use a wire wheel than don't. But they do a great job cleaning them up and quickly.

07-06-2011, 06:30 PM	#10
AJP Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-01-10 Location: Manhattan, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Didn't really have the cash for it but figured it was worth it. Ordered two of the custom made wood handles. http://www.amlwoodart.com/contact.html __________________ UDS, 22.5" 1996 Weber Kettle, 37.5" Weber Ranch Kettle

07-11-2011, 06:44 PM	#11
AJP Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-01-10 Location: Manhattan, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Got my handles in today. If it wasn't 105 outside I would be able to work on it. __________________ UDS, 22.5" 1996 Weber Kettle, 37.5" Weber Ranch Kettle

07-11-2011, 06:53 PM	#12
martyleach Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Can't wait to see the finished Kettle! By the way, nice handles! __________________ Large Big Green Egg, Cold smokehouse, UDS with hinged lid, Santa Maria pit 26.75" Weber OTG, Weber Performer, WGA MAK One Star General Pellet Pooper Hasty Bake Gourmet Custom wooden handles for BBQ's made by Marty Leach (oh, that's me) www.amlwoodart.com

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