Posted about the purchase a couple weeks back but this title is more appropriate! The grill in question is a '98 model redhead Genesis 1000, purchased locally for $75 from the original owner. It's quite solid, with only one rusty spot that I've found on the frame so far (at the rear right corner of the firebox) and is in good working order--in fact I did a test run last weekend after just wire brushing the grate and it performed really well. Needs one heck of a cleaning though, some paint, and the wood slats in the side table are pretty much gone. (Side table already removed in this photo)
Other pressing issues have kept me from starting the cleaning in earnest so far, but the bars and burners should be fine--they've been replaced in the past couple years (bars are SS) and look solid. I'd like to replace the grate though; it's not rusted out, but it's channel-formed and pretty dingy. I'd like to go with solid rod stainless for the replacement. I know rcplanebuyer's products get a lot of love around here, but looking at his current ebay items there isn't a grate for the 1000 available. Grillparts.com has a stainless rod grate available for $80--claims to be genuine Weber. It's 1/4 rather than the 3/8 rcplanebuyer uses; how big a functional/durability difference might that make? Has anyone bought from them before? $93 shipped for the set of 2 sounds like a pretty good deal, but if the 1/4 isn't going to hold up, maybe it's not?
Also, any tips for redoing the wood slats? I know switching to durawood would be a lifetime replacement, but I like the look of the real wood and I think the slats on the drop table can be saved so I'd only need to cut new ones for the fixed table. What type of wood are the originals (I'm not so good at ID)? I've also seen at least one on here with wood slats on the bottom tray as well. That's a good look, I presume custom-made; how would one fabricate the z-brackets for such a thing?
Thanks!

Other pressing issues have kept me from starting the cleaning in earnest so far, but the bars and burners should be fine--they've been replaced in the past couple years (bars are SS) and look solid. I'd like to replace the grate though; it's not rusted out, but it's channel-formed and pretty dingy. I'd like to go with solid rod stainless for the replacement. I know rcplanebuyer's products get a lot of love around here, but looking at his current ebay items there isn't a grate for the 1000 available. Grillparts.com has a stainless rod grate available for $80--claims to be genuine Weber. It's 1/4 rather than the 3/8 rcplanebuyer uses; how big a functional/durability difference might that make? Has anyone bought from them before? $93 shipped for the set of 2 sounds like a pretty good deal, but if the 1/4 isn't going to hold up, maybe it's not?
Also, any tips for redoing the wood slats? I know switching to durawood would be a lifetime replacement, but I like the look of the real wood and I think the slats on the drop table can be saved so I'd only need to cut new ones for the fixed table. What type of wood are the originals (I'm not so good at ID)? I've also seen at least one on here with wood slats on the bottom tray as well. That's a good look, I presume custom-made; how would one fabricate the z-brackets for such a thing?
Thanks!