A picture is always nice though to confirm. Only reason for my comments is because I only know of 1 blue 26. I'd really like to see if another one really exists!
The current Weber 26 has a lid bail, but is only made in black. The old 26ers did not have a lid bail. More than likely the guy with the blue grill has a 22
Brians handles are awesome. Makes that grill pop. Nice. If you want to clean up a little better around where the handle attaches to the lid, use some 0000 steel wool right up against it.
Its probably 3.8 lbs lighter because there is so much less steel. The bowl is SO MUCH smaller and not nearly as deep.
The big question I have is what is the spacing difference between the cooking and charcoal grate of both grills?
Thats where I got my bone white Smokey from. They don't stock grills there, but they do get them in from time to time. Sort of a "right place right time" sort of thing
I traded an old red smokey joe with an offset handle on top to Weber in Palatine. It was on the premise that they were collecting vintage grills to create a museum there. I have had occassional contact with people over there and there is yet to be any sort of museum. Its always "in the...
Chad...if you don't want to spend all that time sanding with different grits, laquer, etc etc...just contact Brian Oneal on the board here. He makes them and they are awesome and will look better than you can do with your weathered ones.
The wok is made to fit your 18.5 of course, but will still work on the 22.5. It goes on top of the cooking grate, and just pile your coals right under the center of it! Enjoy, they work pretty good. I'm pretty sure Weber has a small inventory left of the 18.5" ones, just not the 22.5's. You...