Jon Tofte
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Here's an update on my $100 bargain purchase of an 8-year old Summit.
Most of you know - but perhaps some do not - that the firebox on the Summit (including the current version) is NOT made of a single piece of cast aluminum. Unlike the Genesis, whose firebox will last for decades if not abused, the Summit for some unknown reason uses STEEL in the lower portion of the firebox. As L Michaels has pointed out, the front part of this arrangement is particularly subject to rust-through which in time can make your firebox unsafe and unusable. Larry had this happen to his earlier version Summit and didn't get much support from Weber.
In one last gasp of grill renovations before I sink into tax preparation season oblivion, I got a friend to help me disassemble the Summit I picked up back at Thanksgiving time. Unfortunately, not only was the bottom of the frame enclosure rusted out, but here is the firebox:
I am not really surprised, but I am now that much more wary of these Summit grills. Maybe the size of the Summit makes it difficult to make the entire firebox from one cast piece of aluminum. If not, it is hard to come up with a good explanation of why Weber would use steel that is doomed to rust-though in the most critical part of the grill. Combine that with the decision to use painted steel for the lower frame and enclosure - especially the bottom where water collects - and you have to ask yourself why someone should pay over $2000 for one of these.
I am pinning my hopes on my friend the sheet metal shop owner to see what he can come up with. This grill is another charity project, so I don't feel like forking out ~$400 for a replacement firebox that will also have the same steel pieces. If I had been the original owner, I MIGHT have been able to prevail in a warranty argument with Weber since the grill is less than 10 years old. I am not, so I can't. If you already own a Summit or know someone who does, I would be sure to register my ownership and the actual date of original purchase. Then I would make a CAREFUL check of the part of the firebox where the burner tubes come in on a regular basis so that you can make a claim in time.
Minus the potential of having a sheet metal expert help you out on a bargain basis, I would recommend to those looking at used Summits to consider instead buying 2 Genesis grills. The total cooking space would be more and the versatility higher. Parts are more plentiful and more reasonably priced, as well. Best of all, the firebox on Genesis grills is all cast aluminum.
Most of you know - but perhaps some do not - that the firebox on the Summit (including the current version) is NOT made of a single piece of cast aluminum. Unlike the Genesis, whose firebox will last for decades if not abused, the Summit for some unknown reason uses STEEL in the lower portion of the firebox. As L Michaels has pointed out, the front part of this arrangement is particularly subject to rust-through which in time can make your firebox unsafe and unusable. Larry had this happen to his earlier version Summit and didn't get much support from Weber.
In one last gasp of grill renovations before I sink into tax preparation season oblivion, I got a friend to help me disassemble the Summit I picked up back at Thanksgiving time. Unfortunately, not only was the bottom of the frame enclosure rusted out, but here is the firebox:
I am not really surprised, but I am now that much more wary of these Summit grills. Maybe the size of the Summit makes it difficult to make the entire firebox from one cast piece of aluminum. If not, it is hard to come up with a good explanation of why Weber would use steel that is doomed to rust-though in the most critical part of the grill. Combine that with the decision to use painted steel for the lower frame and enclosure - especially the bottom where water collects - and you have to ask yourself why someone should pay over $2000 for one of these.
I am pinning my hopes on my friend the sheet metal shop owner to see what he can come up with. This grill is another charity project, so I don't feel like forking out ~$400 for a replacement firebox that will also have the same steel pieces. If I had been the original owner, I MIGHT have been able to prevail in a warranty argument with Weber since the grill is less than 10 years old. I am not, so I can't. If you already own a Summit or know someone who does, I would be sure to register my ownership and the actual date of original purchase. Then I would make a CAREFUL check of the part of the firebox where the burner tubes come in on a regular basis so that you can make a claim in time.
Minus the potential of having a sheet metal expert help you out on a bargain basis, I would recommend to those looking at used Summits to consider instead buying 2 Genesis grills. The total cooking space would be more and the versatility higher. Parts are more plentiful and more reasonably priced, as well. Best of all, the firebox on Genesis grills is all cast aluminum.
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