My old kettle

[W Tyler]

On a couple of occasions (at least) within the past 3 years I've decided that the old kettle should go. First time I decided to keep her was when I saw a YouTube video where a guy did some delicious baby back ribs on a kettle on a single load of charcoal. This was my immersion into real grilling (anything besides quick items like burgers and chicken). Then I added my own twist and this past summer was able to smoke 3 full racks of trimmed spares for 5 hrs on a single load of coals. And make applewood smoked chicken that even my Bubba Keg can't match!

So this fall after getting a "new" One touch Kettle for cheap, then adding the ash catcher, and a Charbroil CI grate, I was certain that the kettle was history. It had 6 months worth of dirt, general neglect, old ash and coals, you name it.

But this morning, after steel wooling the exterior, sanding on the wood handles, cleaning out the bowl, dropping in a new aluminum OTS ash catcher, and putting in the Stok CI grate, the old kettle is "looking good" once again, and may stay in the stable.

This addiction is getting bad - never thought I'd have this many outdoor cookers in my life!!!

 

[K Kruger]

See?

I have a smoker and a couple kettles in Fla, a kettle in Okla, and - already here when I found this house - an old kettle in Vegas. I replaced the grate. Mine looks nowhere near as good as yours but it does the job. (Ribs last night < 2 hours. Might do a brisket on it today.)

Could use a smoker here.

 

[Lew]

Those wooden handles are the best originals I've seen in a while. Not sure where in Georgia you are, but if you decide to cut her loose, I'm sure we can find a new home for her!

 

[George Curtis]

i felt horrified that you might get rid of that great lookin kettle. if i was closer i would be bangin at yer door for it. now you just need to seal up the handles and start using it. put the onetouch in the corner as a reserve cooker.

 

[Gary Hodgin]

I'd get rid of that kettle the day after I gave up cooking. Looks great.

 

[Lew Newby]

So that's what my 98 Kettle would look like if I cleaned it up. Sweet. Actually mine wouldn't look that good.

 

[W Tyler]

Only thing really bad about it is lid scratches. I had been using the thing 10 years before I knew there was a hook underneath the lid (probably 5 years before I paid attention and noticed there was a hook, 5 more before I started using it). Wish there was an easy way to fill in those scratches without sanding a respraying large areas.

 

[Mike Resler]

Don't sell the kettle, it is a keeper!

 

[W Tyler]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mike Resler:
Don't sell the kettle, it is a keeper! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Probably gonna keep it - for 2012 for sure. Here's the kettle in action back in summer 2010. 3 full racks of trimmed spares for 5 hrs on one small load of Kingsford blue.

Yep - I think she's a keeper.