Found a WSM, lots of rust?


 
H

Hassouni

New member
Hi everyone,

A couple days ago I found an 18" WSM being given away for free by someone in the neighborhood at a yard sale right when I was considering buying one for a few hundred bucks.

I spent a while today checking it out - it's 2003. I think I realized why it was being given away - lots of rust and gunk. (Just inspected it closely today).

The charcoal grate is falling apart with rust, the charcoal ring is starting to have a bit of rust, the middle cooking grate has a decent amount of rust, and the top grate is starting to get rust spots. The vent bolts are rusty and the vents wouldn't turn, but WD-40 fixed that. Additionally, the water pan is really gunked up - looks like it was never foiled. I plan to replace this stuff as it's pretty cheap.

More concerningly, the bottom section of the body seems to have lots rust. How is this possible? I thought the enameled surface won't rust? I managed to scrape and wipe a lot of it out using WD-40 and an old towel, but I didn't get all of it. Could it just be settled, condensed rust particles from the exposed parts (grates, bolts, etc)? Half of the coal grate was sitting in the bowl in the form of flaked off splinters of rust.

Here are some pictures:

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If the stuff in the bowl IS rust, how did it get there? Did the previous owners manage to remove all the enamel coating from the bowl? Is there any way to remove the rust and seal it? Or should I just say screw it and use it as is, and hope to get several years out of it?

Thanks!
 
Hassouni,
First welcome to the forum.
The rust you are seeing in the bowl could be rust from the grates. It looks to me like that thing has spent a lot of time in water, so it's not impossible that the bowl was full of rainwater, and as it evaporated a rusty residue was left behind.
I really doubt the porcelain has been removed. Wash it really well with an SOS pad and use it.
Looks like you have a little work to do to rehab her, but it will be worth the effort.
 
I'm not a grill restoration expert but I've cleaned alot of rusty old tools. There doesn't seem to be alot of rust but it'd probably be a good idea to remove what you can easily.

Unless someone has a better idea, I'd start lightly cleaning the rust with a maroon or white scotch pad (green if I didn't have the finer grades). 000 or 0000 steel wool, or 1000 grit or higher wet/dry sandpaper would work. I'd want to clean the rust with minimal damage to the enameled surface.

I'd use Pam or some other cooking oil as a lubricate. I would avoid the harsh chemical rust removers that I use on tools because I wouldn't want to contaminate my pit any more than necessary. After removing the rust, I'd spray Pam on the interior and burn a chimney of coals with all vents open. Then, cook on it at least once a week forever to keep the rust down.
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A common modification made on the 18.5" WSM is to replace the Weber water pan with a Brinkman charcoal pan. That's Brinkman charcoal pan, not Brinkman water pan. If you're near an Academy Sports you can get it for $5, although I notice that it's not available online at this time.

https://www.virtualweberbullet.com/piedmont-pan/
 
That's a great find, clean 'er up and you'll be smoking away in no time.

Look at it this way, you've rescued it!
 
That looks like rust from the grates and the hardware that attaches the legs is in the bowl. Since you are cleaning it up I would replace the leg hardware with stainless steel. It looks rusted pretty bad and might as well do it now rather than later.
 
Great, thanks for the replies! I'm going out of town in a few days for 3 weeks so may not have time to get to it till I get back, but I'm glad to hear it's salvageable
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I would just wipe the rusty spots with oil (probably peanut oil) and then use the WSM as long as you can.

Ray
 
Well, it seems as if the enamel HAS come off, but it seems to have been all gone evenly, starting from the coal grate line on down. There's definitely no smoothness, it looks and feels like bare, blackened steel (kind of like an carbon steel wok with the seasoning stripped off).

Also, I can't get the rusted leg bolts off....
 
Hi hassouni,

Wow that is a nice piece you found there !

Personnally i would simply restore it and it is quite easy !

First, simply order a replacement part for the coal ring and the bottom grate. You can get them from amazon or any shop that sells WSM.

About the rust, buy a soft wire brush or sand paper (for rust) and remove it completle. Than buy a high temp paint (for bbq or stove) and paint it back (http://www.krylon.com/products/bbq_stove_paints/)

If the top grates are also rusted, you can also buy them, i think that for less than 100$ you can make it look like a brand new one !

have fun smoking !
 
Originally posted by Hassouni:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Louis:
and if you can, replace the rusted skrew !
Click to expand...

How do you suggest doing that? I've sprayed the heck out of it with WD-40 and it won't budge at all. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I just had to cut 2 of mine off with a 4" angle grinder to get them off so I could replace the bolts and clean up the base.

Sears Hardware sells the exact same bolt.
 
Originally posted by Hassouni:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Louis:
and if you can, replace the rusted skrew !
Click to expand...

How do you suggest doing that? I've sprayed the heck out of it with WD-40 and it won't budge at all. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well personnally i would cut them off but you need the right tool, like a Dremel with a small cutting disc ... You can also try a to hit the nut with a punch and an hammer ...

Have u tried with a wratchet ? It might give u a better grip
 
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