Dave - Pinto_Dave
New member
I inherited the family Red Head Weber last month, when my dad decided it was time for a new Spirit E-310. He bought this Red Head in the late 80s or so, from what he can remember. It had sat outdoors, uncovered, on the covered patio for the past 25+ years. Through-out that time, the flavorizer bars, grates have been replaced a handful of times, and new burners about two years ago, but other than that and the occasional power wash it has never had anything else done to it. There have been so many good meals and memories cooked with and around this grill, it felt right to restore it and keep it going another 25 years, if possible!
I scraped out the box and inside of the lid, polished up the outside of the lid, and disassembled the lid and firebox for sanding and painted both with high temp rust-oleum black BBQ paint. Took everything I could off of the frame and sanded it down, and painted that with the same high temp black paint. The frame is in pretty nice shape with a lot of the original paint still on it. There was rust in a few spots, but nothing some sanding couldn't take care of!
I have replaced the wood slats on the left side table with new cedar wood and lacquered. Also did the same with the lid handle today, using a forstner bit to cut out the slots, using the drill press. Also lacquered that to match the side table.
The electronic ignition with a new weber one. The original ignitor assembly was removed, as it died shortly after the grill was purchased. The original button was still there, but nothing else. No more lighting with a lighter or match now!
Yesterday I replaced the wheels with new nearly matching 8" ones, and had to make a tank gauge sticker on the computer. I printed it onto sticker paper, cut it out, and sprayed it with some gloss clear coat. It turned out great!
I will post pictures of the grill itself later after I put the handle back on. My dad knows that I am cleaning it up, I don't think he knows the extent I have gone to, though. I think he will be thrilled!
Feel free to PM me if anyone wants a sticker or two, I printed off twelve of them so as not to waste a sheet of expensive sticker paper. I will mail out stickers free of charge to whomever wants one!
I scraped out the box and inside of the lid, polished up the outside of the lid, and disassembled the lid and firebox for sanding and painted both with high temp rust-oleum black BBQ paint. Took everything I could off of the frame and sanded it down, and painted that with the same high temp black paint. The frame is in pretty nice shape with a lot of the original paint still on it. There was rust in a few spots, but nothing some sanding couldn't take care of!
I have replaced the wood slats on the left side table with new cedar wood and lacquered. Also did the same with the lid handle today, using a forstner bit to cut out the slots, using the drill press. Also lacquered that to match the side table.
The electronic ignition with a new weber one. The original ignitor assembly was removed, as it died shortly after the grill was purchased. The original button was still there, but nothing else. No more lighting with a lighter or match now!
Yesterday I replaced the wheels with new nearly matching 8" ones, and had to make a tank gauge sticker on the computer. I printed it onto sticker paper, cut it out, and sprayed it with some gloss clear coat. It turned out great!
I will post pictures of the grill itself later after I put the handle back on. My dad knows that I am cleaning it up, I don't think he knows the extent I have gone to, though. I think he will be thrilled!
Feel free to PM me if anyone wants a sticker or two, I printed off twelve of them so as not to waste a sheet of expensive sticker paper. I will mail out stickers free of charge to whomever wants one!
