Okay here goes.
Some before and afters...some detail shots, some questions...
As much as anything, this grill really needed a good deep cleaning, like the ones I used to do twice a year. So far I have gotten the outside and inside of the cabinet, exterior back and top of the box, and chipped away at some of the rock-like crud inside the firebox.
On the back, lichens were attacking the paint.
Back now:
However, lichens are still on the bottom of the back of the firebox. I have to figure out how to get those off if I'm not going to take the whole grill apart (trying to pick my fights here, since I'm new.
)
Can you see the lichens on the box through the slots in the back? I need to get those before they eat the paint. Fortunately the back metal still feels smooth. The cast box has more of a rough surface though. I hope it's not damaged.
Inside box before
Inside after--a little progress, though certainly not perfect. I used a putty knife to kind of chisel the stuff off, and a brass brush to scrape. Ash seems to just appear as soon as I turn my back and cover everything, no matter how much I brush with a softer brush.
Inside of the cabinet looked like this *hangs head* I didn't know all that straw was under there so y'all are seeing the real deal "deck not cleaned up yet this season" me.
Dan asked if there was rust...but you couldn't really tell...so...
Cleaned up, it's possible to see where the rust is. I'll detail that below. Apologies for the soft focus. I was moving fast. But actually so surprised how good it still is.
For Dan, here are the corners of the doors... once again, it's a little soft. Apologies. That soft focus is hard to look at.
Okay trouble spots:
That spot by the back wall is rust.
Most advanced rust is here: (although I have not looked at the bottom of the cart.)
Some rust here...makes me worry about the inside of this tube. I want to NOT remove the firebox to get to the medial side of that tube, but I may need to. The tube on the other side of the firebox is the same.
Drip tray thingy has the worst rust of all.
To the member who recommended the razor blade scraper, THANK YOU! I soaked the crud with cleaner, let it set, and the razor peeled it right off!
Aluminum grease tray has corrosion. Guessing this is probably not an expensive part to replace if one of those spots turns into a hole. Some of the corrosion is deeper on the back. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo.
so...Before and after of the whole grill, and then some stuff in the lid..
Filthy, sad Weber...
Now has some hope, though a long way to go....
So the inside of the lid..
Y'all said this is carbon flaking, not paint. Until I clean the inside of this lid, I won't know if there is rust in there anywhere. I'm hoping that reddish tint is just because I brightened the photo. Other side has similar flaking, but I think more carbon build up. I tend to work from the left. I don't know if that's why there is more grime on the outside of the box, and inside of the lid. I don't use one side of the cooking surfaces more than the other.
Okay y'all...have at me. Any advice, thoughts, what would you do? How to move forward in the best way?
Dan, did I forget to take photos of anything you wanted?
Also to everyone. I have looked at the links you have posted, but noted some questions others asked about fit for those. Some of the older links in the refurb threads, I can't tell if those are still available or right for me. I've seen several suggestions, but I'm a little confused as to what grates to order, and that's the deal breaker. I can't cook until I get new grates. I will pay for the heavier stainless grates (if I can), and am open to any pros and cons about any of the options.
Once again thanks to all of you.
