Rehabbing a neglected performer

[Chezmatt]

I've recently rescued a Weber Performer that has been sitting outside in the fog and rain for a few years. Fortunately, it was under a cover, so it's in pretty good shape. There was some ash in the kettle, so there's a lot of rust on the grates, and some in the kettle itself. Perhaps the biggest concern is a ring of rust along the bottom of the kettle lid, where it sits on the lower rim.

I know a lot of the Brethren have experience with rehabbing CL finds, so I was hoping for guidance on a few points:

1) What's the best way to clean up heavily rusted grill and charcoal grates? Should I use cleaners? Or just scrub away? I think some people let them soak in various cleaners and/or water. Any ideas?

2) Is there anything I can do about the rust on the lid that won't damage the enamel?

3) Is there anything I can/should do about the rust inside the kettle? It's by no means rusting through, there are just a few orange spots.

Thanks in advance!

 

[shazam]

i use a product you should be able to find at home depot called cleen strip phosphoric prep and etch to remove rust. $15/gal. good for old rusty tools also. not sure how it would affect the porcelain coating on the lid and bowl though. you might try leaving a rag soaked in some on a small test area. just till the rust is gone. same for tools. sort of leaves a parkerized type finish and helps protect from further rust.

 

[Chezmatt]

i use a product you should be able to find at home depot called cleen strip phosphoric prep and etch to remove rust. $15/gal. good for old rusty tools also. not sure how it would affect the porcelain coating on the lid and bowl though. you might try leaving a rag soaked in some on a small test area. just till the rust is gone. same for tools. sort of leaves a parkerized type finish and helps protect from further rust.

Thanks for the advice. Is that going to be food safe on the cooking grate?

 

[realspaazz]

For the cooking grates, i give them a good brushing with a wire brush, rub them down with vinegar a time or two, then coat them up with vegetable oil and start a nice fire to "season" them a little oil on the grates each time I cook keeps them well seasoned.
I had a few inside surface rust spots on my WSM when I rescued it. I just cleaned it up with degreaser (like simple green) rinsed it out well and coated it with vegetable oil. No recurring rust in two + years.

 

[mbshop]

for rust i just use pam to cover it. after a while it gets a nice protective coating.
easy to reapply if it gets burned off.

 

[shazam]

Thanks for the advice. Is that going to be food safe on the cooking grate?

i don't see why not. it's a chemical reaction with the rust. a good rinse and brushing with a steel wire brush should remove anything you may be worried about. of course unless you have other uses for the etch you may just want to put that $15 into a new charcoal grate (about $11) and a new flip-up sides cooking grate (about $18 i think) and be done. z