"Free" Performer

[Andy Linn]

The point of this thread is to ask for advice: Is there an "easy way" to swap a MT kettle into a performer frame?

I was out for a walk this morning and my neighbor had this sitting out front. I wheeled it home on an impulse. I feel like I can remove the gas pipe (gas assist does not interest me), take the table off and paint it - and set my current master touch into the table assembly. Then I can just buy a new castor (8 bucks on Weber's site) for the front and it's good to go.

The catch: The kettle bowl there now a) has a hole in it from the gas line b) has rusted through at the gas line hole location. This thing looks like it's seen some high heat fires.

So... it looks like there are tabs which are spot welded to the kettle bowl and those "tabs" are what screws to the table frame.

I am assuming someone here has swapped a kettle into a performer frame? I am initially thinking to dremel off the "tabs" the kettle hangs off the frame from. Then drill holes in them. Drill matching holes into my donor kettle. And then hang it on the table. At that point it seems like it would be easier to order a new kettle bowl - but I didn't see that on the Weber site as a replacement part..

 

[Andy Linn]

Little bit of google work came up with some after market brackets.. These look like they may be a viable option to swap in my donor kettle without much effort. If anyone has a better idea please let me know.

After-Market Kettle Parts

“When Weber announced that after 20 years they were bringing back the famous Red Kettle for a Limited Edition run, I had a dream of buying one and throwing it into a Performer cart to make a …

r-shack-bbq.com

 

[DanHoo]

Similar part.

Amazon.com

 

[Andy Linn]

Just putting this link here for my reference. I am going to have to buy cobalt drill bits anyway. If I reuse the old brackets - I think I may get this put together for the cost of a new castor wheel & drill bits.

Removing brackets from old Performer to re-use

Has anyone ever removed the two side brackets from a Performer bowl and reused them to attach a standard kettle to a Performer table? If so, how did you go about removing the bracket? Also curious if/how you drilled the holes in the bowl to attach the bracket and the holes for the lid bale and...

tvwbb.com

 

[MikeCantell]

Love the gas lighting on mine, that was the main reason I bought it, turns out I enjoyed the rest of it too

 

[Andy Linn]

Put her together this morning. Turns out I invested $24. Had to replace a drill bit, buy a caster and hardware.

I told my wife she's going to need some stainless grates and a cover too.

 

[DanHoo]

Looks good Andy.

What paint did you use on the table?

 

[Colin]

Man, that looks nice! Good job Andy.

 

[Andy Linn]

Looks good Andy.

What paint did you use on the table?

I sprayed it with some Krylon... I had a bit of matte and half a can of flat (both black) on the shelf in the garage. I sprayed the brackets with Krylon too on the bare spots - I may live to regret that move

 

[Andy Linn]

When I assembled my kettle into my performer frame, I didn't space the bowl high enough and the lid is a bit of a pain to set on just so... I use it all the time and it's fine.

However, I am still going to relegate the cooker to pizza duty and an upcoming rotisserie ring.

Was planning to get a new kettle for other grilling duties with the 70th editions coming out but got sticker shock.

Luckily, I found this beauty for a great price on marketplace. Here she is in action cooking sausage and veggies for today's pizza!

 

[EricV.]

When I assembled my kettle into my performer frame, I didn't space the bowl high enough and the lid is a bit of a pain to set on just so... I use it all the time and it's fine.

However, I am still going to relegate the cooker to pizza duty and an upcoming rotisserie ring.

Was planning to get a new kettle for other grilling duties with the 70th editions coming out but got sticker shock.

Luckily, I found this beauty for a great price on marketplace. Here she is in action cooking sausage and veggies for today's pizza!

This is a well documented video that takes the guess work out spacing the bowl height. There is is also a Par 1 & 3 videos pertaining to switching out a kettle on a Performer.

 

[Andy Linn]

This is a well documented video that takes the guess work out spacing the bowl height.

Hi Eric - I watched mentioned video and linked it in post #2 above. Still got it wrong. c'est la vie