Restoration tips and advice

[ElliottP]

I have recently acquired 2 “new” gassers and am looking to do a big restoration on them in the coming weeks. I was looking for some suggestions on products to clean, sand, scrape, paint,etc as well as what is recommended to be replaced rather than repaired. Any advice helps. The two grills are a 1998 Genesis 1100 LP (red) and a 2001 Genesis Silver-A (maroon).

 

[Steve Hoch]

This is my 1998 Genesis grill, if you have any questions I'm happy to help.

 

[TomRc]

You’ve come to the right place. My best advice is to search, read, and absorb, while resisting the temptation to dive right in and start turning wrenches immediately. Everything you want to know is already here and you’ll get much better info and more of an in-depth discussion from the existing threads than we could ever offer on a new query like this. I do several gassers each year of the vintages you have shared, from the most basic rehabs to full restorations, and I always find it best to make a plan and set a budget for each one based on current condition, whether it is a flip or for my own collection, and potential parts availability. It doesn’t make any sense to go for a full restoration on something that you can’t get a part for unless you have a Plan B to overcome that challenge effectively.

 

[ElliottP]

This is my 1998 Genesis grill, if you have any questions I'm happy to help. View attachment 68711

looks great!! What species wood is that? Did you repaint the lid? Is there a chance you can confirm I got the models correct for the two grills in my post?

 

[Steve Hoch]

I replaced my wood with mahogany. You can't repaint the lid, it is porcelain. You just clean it up with fine steel wool and simple green cleaner. The inside of the lid you use a razor blade scraper to get back down to the porcelain. Your identification of both those grills is at least close enough.

 

[LMichaels]

A lot depends on what you're wanting to actually do it for. Make it a "show piece" like so many do, or make it clean and functional as a "driver". With some here the line kind of blurs, but they are really different functions. Also are they intended to be "flipped" (resold), or kept?

 

[Sam Bee]

Nice find! This guide should help you out if you haven't checked it out already...

From Drab to Fab - Putting together a "How-To" Restoration Guide

In an attempt to "do it right," I've been browsing the restoration threads on this forum. In doing so, I thought it'd be prudent to collect all the various bits of knowledge into one single "how-to" guide. While no single guide can be perfect for everyone or every grill, the idea is to capture...

tvwbb.com

 

[Chris Allingham]

Make sure to read all the threads listed here:

Most Popular Weber Gas Grills threads: How-To, Parts Source, Restorations

Here are the most popular Weber Gas Grill threads: From Drab to Fab - Putting together a "How-To" Restoration Guide Weber Gas Grill Parts Source Restored Gas Grill Threads/Photos "How To" Gas Grill Repair Threads Deciphering Old Weber Gas Grill Serial Numbers

tvwbb.com

 

[Bruce]

Tip: If removing the burners, DO NOT try to remove the screws holding them down on the left side. They are not meant to be removed. If the burners won't come out easily, use a flat tip screw driver to wedge between them and the cook box and kinda pry them back to the right and out from under the screws. They are only there as brackets to hold the burners in place.

 

[ElliottP]

A lot depends on what you're wanting to actually do it for. Make it a "show piece" like so many do, or make it clean and functional as a "driver". With some here the line kind of blurs, but they are really different functions. Also are they intended to be "flipped" (resold), or kept?

Definitely functional but I enjoy the process of rehabbing them to close to showroom state. My company has a wood/metal shop so i take it pretty far after work hours. As far as the knowledge goes I guess. Only thing i think I'm getting wrong are the products. I used the wrong paint last time and a subpar cleaning solution. So looking for experienced critique

 

[ElliottP]

I replaced my wood with mahogany. You can't repaint the lid, it is porcelain. You just clean it up with fine steel wool and simple green cleaner. The inside of the lid you use a razor blade scraper to get back down to the porcelain. Your identification of both those grills is at least close enough.

What product did you seal it with?

 

[Steve Hoch]

What product did you seal it with?

Spar urethane, at least three coats if I remember correctly.

 

[ElliottP]

Thanks!

Tip: If removing the burners, DO NOT try to remove the screws holding them down on the left side. They are not meant to be removed. If the burners won't come out easily, use a flat tip screw driver to wedge between them and the cook box and kinda pry them back to the right and out from under the screws. They are only there as brackets to hold the burners in place.

 

[ElliottP]

Couple progress images. Slow going…

 

[Bruce]

Well, it looks like that is coming along very well. Pretty red. Love it.

 

[THyde]

I'm jealous of the resources you have in that shop!

Now, the next thing you are going to want to do is go find five or ten more of these grills and grab them up. Some will be just for parts, others will be "irresistable". Just go hog wild, without thinking of any consequences. Once you have a good half dozen to dozen of them, you want to keep them on your property for many, many years. Then probably get rid of them.

This has been the experience of many here. Somehow, I have mostly, kind of avoided this. Well, not really. Come to think of it, I have not looked at "weber" or "webber" on craigslist in a shockingly long time.

Jokes aside, your grills will come out awesome. You're in the right spot to ask questions, feel free to be very specific with questions about your grills, and pictures always make people respond!