My "new" redhead

[Warner]

I got tired of replacing crappy parts in a crappy grill with generic type replacements, so when the regulator quit on our grill, I had three options....only two of them made financial sense to me. One was to go buy another $200 grill made in China that would look good for the first year, cook food just OK, and probably start to need parts after 2 years. The other (which I couldn't justify financially) was to buy a new Weber grill. Nice and all, of course, but I couldn't justify the price of a new one. My third, and I think BEST option was to search around for a used Weber grill that was in good shape and didn't need a lot of work right from the start. I finally settled on this one. I paid $150 for it. It came with a 3/4 full propane tank and a nice Weber cover. There were some as low as $20, but by the time I got them into the shape that this one is in, I'd have been over $150 for sure. You can't see the inside in the photos, but the flavorizer bars and cooking grates (I believe they are ceramic coated cast iron) were replaced last summer. They are both is real nice shape. The burner doesn't look new, but it looks decent and works perfectly. I'm debating about whether to tear it all apart and refurb it NOW, or use it for a season and do it next year.

There are two things I'd like to get for it. One is the warming rack....this guy didn't come with one. The other is the fold up table....that, I REALLY want. The table space would be MOST helpful. I'd like to get one that matches what I have. I checked and the bar that the table extension mounts to IS there....so I'm not sure what I need to add one or where I can find one. I'm sure someone on here can point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance,

Warner

Let me know what you guys think about this:

 

[Stephen R]

Nice looking redhead: well worth restoring. Do not worry about the warm up rack, not sure anyone uses them too much, and they are still available new.

For your side shelf, might be best to look for a cheap spare weber and combine parts (find one of the $20 CL's). Might have a warm up rack.

Many of us have found restoring a good and rewarding hobby, so I would do some work now rather than later.

Welcome to the Weber gasser world!

 

[ChuckO]

might be time to get rid of those sandals...

 

[Warner]

might be time to get rid of those sandals...

Ha....that's what my wife says. They look worse in that picture because one of the dogs was digging in the mulch and threw it all over the place. Those are my beater sandals that I sometimes use to walk through the yard. One day they'll just disappear, I'm sure.


Warner

 

[Warner]

Nice looking redhead: well worth restoring. Do not worry about the warm up rack, not sure anyone uses them too much, and they are still available new.

For your side shelf, might be best to look for a cheap spare weber and combine parts (find one of the $20 CL's). Might have a warm up rack.

Many of us have found restoring a good and rewarding hobby, so I would do some work now rather than later.

Welcome to the Weber gasser world!

What do you think needs the most attention, Stephen? You're right, I could live without the warming rack, but I'd REALLY like to find one of the (wood) table extensions to match that one. It would be SO handy where that grill is.....seems we're always looking for someplace to put something else down. I moved a table outside, but having it right by (as in attached to) the grill would be super convenient.


Warner

 

[Warner]

PS - Are the table extensions pretty universal? Or is there something in particular that I need to find for this grill?

Thanks in advance guys,

Warner

 

[Rich Dahl]

Warner, I've restored five of the 1000 series grills and this site is a good source for parts. Weber has raised the prices on many of their parts but these guys haven't on what they have in inventory. They also have great exploded diagrams that makes it easy to see what you need.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com

 

[Warner]

Warner, I've restored five of the 1000 series grills and this site is a good source for parts. Weber has raised the prices on many of their parts but these guys haven't on what they have in inventory. They also have great exploded diagrams that makes it easy to see what you need.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com

Thanks Rich. I've seen that site, too. I really don't think I need much....the main thing I want is the table extension. Otherwise, it's just time, work, and some high temperature paint, I think.

Warner

 

[Stephen R]

What do you think needs the most attention, Stephen? You're right, I could live without the warming rack, but I'd REALLY like to find one of the (wood) table extensions to match that one. It would be SO handy where that grill is.....seems we're always looking for someplace to put something else down. I moved a table outside, but having it right by (as in attached to) the grill would be super convenient.


Warner

Hi Warner, your Redhead looks in very good condition.
The frame seems to have no corrosion problems so take the lid off, and get the firebox out of the frame.
Hopefully the bolts are not rusted on. Then you can have a good look at the frame. My 5000 frame was so corroded I paid to have it sandblasted, and then had to have it welded up as the frame crossmembers internal nuts had completly 'gone', then primer and 3 coats.

See if you can then get the manifold detached (the screws to the firebox are often seized) from the firebox. This will let you get the burners out and you can check everything is clean & clear for the gas delivery.

With the tub, I used a wire wheel to get the external surface back to Al metal. Do not stress too much about the inside of the tub. Scrape the fat/carbon/gunk out with a paint scraper, pressure wash if you have one, but do not paint.
As soon as you use it it the fat/carbon/gunk will start to build back up again. Just keep an eye on it as you use it and perhaps once a year scrape it out if it needs it.

I detached the Al side peices from the Red steel lid. Makes it much easier to work on and less chance of damage to the red enamel (which usually just needs a good clean).
Get the outside of the side pieces back to bare metal. Do not stress about the inside surface.

To repaint the Al firebox and sides most seem to use hi-temp auto spray paint. I was told by the paint company here not to use a primer as most primers will melt at the high temps. How many coats you do depends on how much you want to spend on spray cans.

For a little bit of practical 'bling' I replaced the old nuts bolts with SS.

As far as I know the fold out side tables were a standard size, the only difference being the 3000-5000s having the longer frame with a RHS swing out table as well.Why not put a WTB on the forum here, if you do not want to chase a parts machine. Or, why not chase a cheap 3000-5000 which would have LHS and RHS tables, and drop your good firebox in?

 

[Warner]

Hi Warner, your Redhead looks in very good condition.
The frame seems to have no corrosion problems so take the lid off, and get the firebox out of the frame.
Hopefully the bolts are not rusted on. Then you can have a good look at the frame. My 5000 frame was so corroded I paid to have it sandblasted, and then had to have it welded up as the frame crossmembers internal nuts had completly 'gone', then primer and 3 coats.

See if you can then get the manifold detached (the screws to the firebox are often seized) from the firebox. This will let you get the burners out and you can check everything is clean & clear for the gas delivery.

With the tub, I used a wire wheel to get the external surface back to Al metal. Do not stress too much about the inside of the tub. Scrape the fat/carbon/gunk out with a paint scraper, pressure wash if you have one, but do not paint.
As soon as you use it it the fat/carbon/gunk will start to build back up again. Just keep an eye on it as you use it and perhaps once a year scrape it out if it needs it.

I detached the Al side peices from the Red steel lid. Makes it much easier to work on and less chance of damage to the red enamel (which usually just needs a good clean).
Get the outside of the side pieces back to bare metal. Do not stress about the inside surface.

To repaint the Al firebox and sides most seem to use hi-temp auto spray paint. I was told by the paint company here not to use a primer as most primers will melt at the high temps. How many coats you do depends on how much you want to spend on spray cans.

For a little bit of practical 'bling' I replaced the old nuts bolts with SS.

As far as I know the fold out side tables were a standard size, the only difference being the 3000-5000s having the longer frame with a RHS swing out table as well.Why not put a WTB on the forum here, if you do not want to chase a parts machine. Or, why not chase a cheap 3000-5000 which would have LHS and RHS tables, and drop your good firebox in?

Thanks for the great response!

Warner