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Idea for firebox and hood cleaning.


 
T

TGodsil

TVWBB Member
Befriend a place that rebuilds engines, a lot of them have a tank they soak engine blocks in.
Could probably have them soak your hood and firebox cheap.
I've used them before, they take every speck of baked on grease off.
Would be a lot less mess than manually scrubbing/grinding one.
 
It'll strip the paint BUT that is not the worst part. Aluminum is porous (especially cast aluminum) soaking those parts in that strong alkali/solvent will allow the VOCs to penetrate the metal. It will take a VERY long time to get rid of the toxicity as those chemicals burn out of the metal and off gas. The grill will smell like a refinery for months
 
The chemicals and solvents used in parts cleaners was my concern also. I'd love to find a better/easy way, but I would be concerned about harsh chemicals in a food environment.
 
Just find a media blasting company and have the items media blasted, Much safer, no getting black lung, no harsh chemicals just clean bare metal.
 
While grinding wouldn't appear to be anywhere as risky as all those chemicals, I would encourage fellow grill enthusiasts to still exercise care and use a decent face mask, etc. when grinding out grills. Inhaling soot and aluminum dust is not something to take too lightly.
 
Yup, I agree Jon. That's why I'm hardly grinding the firebox now and will just soak it with the Member's Mark grill cleaner, let it soak, scrub a little then finish it off with a pressure washer. Gotta make sure to wear gloves though as that stuff can burn!
 
Yep, for the most part, I am no longer grinding the grills out inside the fire box or outside unless the original paint/coating is peeling and chipping really bad. The Sams Club grill cleaner does a good job cleaning them up along with some kitchen style stainless steel wool. If I am lucky, the end caps are in good enough shape that I don't have to strip them either on the outsides.
 
Bruce,
Sounds like you are gaining some good efficiency. Maybe someday I will figure that out! You latest grills are all still looking great - and selling - so it looks like a win-win. There still is something satisfying about grinding out a really ugly firebox, but it is a nasty and even not totally safe job.

I hope you can keep things rolling. Before long you may need my tax advice as you become a successful business owner instead of a goofy hobbyist like me;)!
 
My good friend has a side business that does mobile dustless (wet) media blasting. I just find out when he or his kids have a project planned, and I drop off a firebox or a lower frame grill and they drop the completed part at my office. Easy-peasy! Lower grills are more of a bugger for them but they're perfectionists at heart. Way easier than using a grinder, that's for sure!!
 
No, I need this to remain a hobby. I don't want the stress and dread that comes with it being a job. But, yah, I have modified my methods away from the perfection side of the process. Sure, the nice perfectly clean silver cook box looks great, but two or three cooks and it is all gone. I haven't really notice buyers caring much for a little remaining carbon here and there as long as it isn't greasy or flaking off. Some times I think maybe I should go the route that Dave in KC does and basically just do a good clean up, but I wouldn't feel satisfied going that route. All my grills get completely disassembled, cleaned and mostly painted before reassembly.

I am sure Dave gets a better monetary return on his efforts than I do, but I feel like I have found a good level of rehab for my tastes. That being said, I did a full cookbox grind out for my current project as it was a grill brought to me by the father of a guy I sold a grill to last summer. Last summer I did the full grind outs, so I figured I had to do that with this grill as that is what the guy would be expecting. This is the first grill I have had brought to me for rehabbing.
 
We do lots of trading. He and I still shoot trap together. This new "hobby" of mine is alot cheaper than building up trap guns, which is what I was focusing on for several years. Just a set of wood of for a trap gun can be north of 3K..just silly. Sold one tonight for more than double that, BUT trap guns are alot easier to store in my safe than grills! Lol
 
Bruce said:
Some times I think maybe I should go the route that Dave in KC does and basically just do a good clean up, but I wouldn't feel satisfied going that route. All my grills get completely disassembled, cleaned and mostly painted before reassembly.
Click to expand...

It all depends on the grill, the project, the desired outcome, what will make a quality refurb,
all the while trying to maintain a sensible budget.
Every 500-5000 series I rollout will be a full-on, frame off restorations.
Silver/Golds are generally getting the same treatment unless I come
across one of the few still out there that are still in really nice condition.
Most 200 and 300 series are done with a nice detailing and a few parts.
Q's are all getting full teardowns, new paint, new parts, etc.
Older Performers are all complete teardown/restorations.
Kettles and WSM's may require handles, sweeps, wheels, grinding or replacing
the grates, and a fair amount of elbow grease.
Rare is the grill, that is complete with just a good clean up.
 
Well, Dang, I thought I had it figured out how you could turn grills around so fast. How much repainting do you do on an average Silver B or Genesis 1000?
 
Every 500-5000 series get the works. Frame off, full restoration.
Same goes for A/B/C's. They are not quick flip grills. They all need
lots of work to make a great product out of and stand above all the
other greasy worn out grills on the swap pages.

Newer grills, kettles, and WSM's can be turned quicker.
 
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