Jason in FLA
New member
I have been blessed by my folks with their old 1970 or 1972 Weber Ranch kettle since they recently bought a new one. This Weber has seen multiple east coast to west coast moves as well as far southern US to far southern US moves since he got it new from a long time friend that worked for Weber. I don't know exactly where to start but I have read how people have restored their webers on this forum so I went out and got the appropriate materials, i.e. high temp black paint, sand paper and ordered new wheels, bottom vent dampeners as well as a new bottom charcoal grate. The grates are in pretty good condition but I just didn't take a photo of them. The top grate actually has a bar section that has come loose on one side but I figure that I can get someone to weld it back or use some copper wire to hold it back in place. It doesn't effect the cooking, just doesn't look right, but new ones at weber are almost 200 bucks! ouch!
Here are my questions.
1. I have some thinning/completely rusted out portions of the bottom kettle. Any ideas on how I should approach/restore, i.e. see if a welder can patch it or place in metal to help support the thinning areas where the legs are located?
2. Sanding. Since I have more than just a touch up job, any objections to using a orbital sander or just hand sand the large gouges/rust areas on bottom kettle front leg areas and other areas. Maybe a light sanding over it all and heavy sanding on deep gouges and paint the whole thing?
3. Should i sand and paint the inside bottom kettle area after i degrease with simply green product and rinse? My thoughts are to stop the rust progression on both sides of the kettle BUT i'm afraid that the paint might be harmful to people when I start cooking, i.e. off gas to my meat.
4. Vent dampeners are stuck/or area missing to put them. I got to drill out the old ones but a little afraid since the kettle dampener portion is already missing on one of the three vents...Any ideas would be great on it. Might be a welding job???
I guess thats it. I do appreciate the time and knowledge that ya'll submit. I don't plan to start this endeavor until March, so I got a lot of learning/asking to do.
Once the link is opened make sure you hit the "Play Button" i.e. triangle on its side, to get things started.
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Here are my questions.
1. I have some thinning/completely rusted out portions of the bottom kettle. Any ideas on how I should approach/restore, i.e. see if a welder can patch it or place in metal to help support the thinning areas where the legs are located?
2. Sanding. Since I have more than just a touch up job, any objections to using a orbital sander or just hand sand the large gouges/rust areas on bottom kettle front leg areas and other areas. Maybe a light sanding over it all and heavy sanding on deep gouges and paint the whole thing?
3. Should i sand and paint the inside bottom kettle area after i degrease with simply green product and rinse? My thoughts are to stop the rust progression on both sides of the kettle BUT i'm afraid that the paint might be harmful to people when I start cooking, i.e. off gas to my meat.
4. Vent dampeners are stuck/or area missing to put them. I got to drill out the old ones but a little afraid since the kettle dampener portion is already missing on one of the three vents...Any ideas would be great on it. Might be a welding job???
I guess thats it. I do appreciate the time and knowledge that ya'll submit. I don't plan to start this endeavor until March, so I got a lot of learning/asking to do.
Once the link is opened make sure you hit the "Play Button" i.e. triangle on its side, to get things started.