Pics of My $25 Weber OTG 22.5" Kettle - And Questions


 
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R. Hutchins

R. Hutchins

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DD and SIL came for Mother's Day and brought along the Weber they picked up for me that was on CL in their neighborhood. I boasted about the find and the price a couple of weeks ago. Today I got pics.

I'm showing the grill to you in 'as-delivered' condition, with questions about cleaning it up.


Top (Click to Enlarge) You can see in this pic what appears to be grime on the lid. I thought this was just caked on dirt, but when I washed it with Dawn and a rag, the surface is not smooth like other parts of the top are. So, I'm thinkin' it needs to be polished a bit. Would it do any harm to use rubbing or polishing compound and a light buffing to try to restore the sheen?

Side View (Click to Enlarge) You can see a small dent in the top in this side view where you can see the ash box and controls.

Hinged Grill (Click to Enlarge)You can see that the cooking grate (grill?) was left dirty and has some light coat of rust. I sprayed it with Easy-Off oven cleaner but it doesn't look like it's doing much good. I'm going to buy a new cooking grate, but I love a challenge. Anyone have any sure-fire tips for returning this one to its former glory?

Charcoal Area (Click to Enlarge)Ashes caked with a little grease line the charcoal area. Notice the ash sweepers: they are in great shape and turn freely. I filled the cover and the kettle with water and dumped in a lot of Dawn concentrate and let it stand. I then took my wire grill brush and scrubbed across the insides. There are layers of ash and grease there that aren't coming out so easily. Same inside the ash container. Any suggestions for products to use to get them spick and span? I want to get it as clean as possible before my first use and build up my own grime layer.

Thanks for looking and for any suggestions for clean up you can offer.

rh
 
Use the easy off everywhere, including in the bowl and the lid. I am a convert to it.

Regarding grates, my current thinking is that is the one part I do not think twice about replacing with new....
 
To clean it you might use two cans of oven cleaner. JUst keep scrubbing, elbow grease...You'll get there. The older the grill the thicker the grease. Get a good plastic scraper, like a plastic putty knife. Spray, scrub, repeat.

Brian
 
Easy Off for the grease and grime..
I also use SOS pads or 0000 steel wool with the Dawn.
To clean the cook grate, use a wire brush.. If you can't get it clean enough, its probably not worth the trouble.
Personally, I use a cheap grinder from Harbor Feight with a wire wheel attachment.
DISCLAIMER: Its a power tool that can cause great harm. If you have never used a grinder, I don't recommend it.. I only use it on the grate. The porcelain can be scratched if you use the wrong tools.
After its clean and dry, spray the rusty spots with some Pam.. It'll slow down the rust.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by AJ S.:

After its clean and dry, spray the rusty spots with some Pam.. It'll slow down the rust. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Not you too! You had me until you mention Pam!
icon_rolleyes.gif
 
I think the ghost of George put that in there..
I personally like WD40, but I don't want my food to taste like it.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by AJ S.:
... I personally like WD40, but I don't want my food to taste like it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I was going to suggest WD40 as well. It will soften the grease that is holding the ash together and is less likely to corrode the aluminum parts in the bowl. Follow up with Dawn to remove the last traces of the WD40 and you will have no problem with off flavors.

I clean my grates fairly religiously with Dawn and a Scotch-Brite pad. They rust if you look cross eyed at them. The plating that Weber applies is not sufficient to protect them, even back in the day. The grate on the never fired 26 I recently acquired had specks of rust on it just from moisture in the air.

I used to burn off my grates between cooks but I found that they never got hot enough on the WSM and they began pitting badly. I started cleaning them following every cook and when dry, I coat them with a film of cooking oil to prevent further rust. Even an older grate can be brought back into serviceable condition with a little elbow grease, though it may be necessary to burn off deposits that form around the edges prior to cleanup.

Grates for my 26 are no longer available so I have to make that one last!
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Hank B:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by AJ S.:
... I personally like WD40, but I don't want my food to taste like it. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I was going to suggest WD40 as well. It will soften the grease that is holding the ash together and is less likely to corrode the aluminum parts in the bowl. Follow up with Dawn to remove the last traces of the WD40 and you will have no problem with off flavors.

I clean my grates fairly religiously with Dawn and a Scotch-Brite pad. They rust if you look cross eyed at them. The plating that Weber applies is not sufficient to protect them, even back in the day. The grate on the never fired 26 I recently acquired had specks of rust on it just from moisture in the air.

I used to burn off my grates between cooks but I found that they never got hot enough on the WSM and they began pitting badly. I started cleaning them following every cook and when dry, I coat them with a film of cooking oil to prevent further rust. Even an older grate can be brought back into serviceable condition with a little elbow grease, though it may be necessary to burn off deposits that form around the edges.

Grates for my '85 26 are no longer available so I have to make that one last! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
 
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