MichaelM
TVWBB Super Fan
Pretty much just got my 18.5" WSM rigged up for grilling and came to the realization, that I had to have a kettle. The extra few inches make a huge difference in usable grilling real estate and surely will result in a magical level of cooking... at least that's what I told my wife.
My Marketplace find is carries date code DR.. so model year 2005/2006. Not bad. Paid $50 for the grill, a backup chimney, half a bag of Red Devil, a pair of Weber Charcoal Rails (7402) and some wood chunks. It is a beautiful blue. The prior owner said he worked for Chevy and it was as close to Chevy Engine Block Blue as he could find. With the exception of a small ding on the lid lip, it is in superb condition. The ash vent/cleanout needs a helping hand and the legs are a bit pitted, but the restoration will be a great winter project.
The ash pan and lower vent cowel are both unpainted aluminum. There is no lid bail, though the prior owner added a hook on lid bail that he said was OE Weber.. Looks like this...
Works well enough for now and I plan to deck mount this kettle in the spring, so maybe a hood hinge might be in order at some later date.
He also added a very small thermometer mounted right beside the lids vent damper. Odd placement but good enough at this point.
The cooking grate will be replaced. Although I cleaned it well, it was starting to rustand I am lusting after a nice grill grate. Would love cast iron for cool factor, but worry about maintaining it given I live on the open salt water bay. I'll likely spring for the GBS so I can use a Vortex/Poortex and add the cast iron center grate which will be easier to care for. I already have a backup charcoal grate, so no need to source that. For now the Weber Charcoal baskets will work fine until I get an SnS.
The leg cap was missing.. easy fix at the hardware store. Wheels are the smaller ones and are perfect. The only other issue that needs attention is tightening up the legs. They are slip fit into the leg holders on the kettle and are pretty loose. I would think I can shim them with some aluminum flashing to make a non-permanent fix, but I am open to other ideas. I am sure this has been addressed previously.
So what model kettle do I actually have? DR would make it a MY 2005/2006, but shouldn't the date code be accompanied by Authorized? I am thinking I have a Gen I Master Touch in Cobalt Blue. Although.. Gen I was only 1992 - 1999. I think...
How best to tighten the legs?
My Marketplace find is carries date code DR.. so model year 2005/2006. Not bad. Paid $50 for the grill, a backup chimney, half a bag of Red Devil, a pair of Weber Charcoal Rails (7402) and some wood chunks. It is a beautiful blue. The prior owner said he worked for Chevy and it was as close to Chevy Engine Block Blue as he could find. With the exception of a small ding on the lid lip, it is in superb condition. The ash vent/cleanout needs a helping hand and the legs are a bit pitted, but the restoration will be a great winter project.
The ash pan and lower vent cowel are both unpainted aluminum. There is no lid bail, though the prior owner added a hook on lid bail that he said was OE Weber.. Looks like this...
Works well enough for now and I plan to deck mount this kettle in the spring, so maybe a hood hinge might be in order at some later date.
He also added a very small thermometer mounted right beside the lids vent damper. Odd placement but good enough at this point.
The cooking grate will be replaced. Although I cleaned it well, it was starting to rustand I am lusting after a nice grill grate. Would love cast iron for cool factor, but worry about maintaining it given I live on the open salt water bay. I'll likely spring for the GBS so I can use a Vortex/Poortex and add the cast iron center grate which will be easier to care for. I already have a backup charcoal grate, so no need to source that. For now the Weber Charcoal baskets will work fine until I get an SnS.
The leg cap was missing.. easy fix at the hardware store. Wheels are the smaller ones and are perfect. The only other issue that needs attention is tightening up the legs. They are slip fit into the leg holders on the kettle and are pretty loose. I would think I can shim them with some aluminum flashing to make a non-permanent fix, but I am open to other ideas. I am sure this has been addressed previously.
So what model kettle do I actually have? DR would make it a MY 2005/2006, but shouldn't the date code be accompanied by Authorized? I am thinking I have a Gen I Master Touch in Cobalt Blue. Although.. Gen I was only 1992 - 1999. I think...
How best to tighten the legs?
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