Rusted cooking grate on RK advice

[Bob Correll]

Picked up a Weber Ranch Kettle via CL, and want to refurb it, to a point. A few rust areas on the body are not a problem to fix.
The cooking grate is very solid but rusty.
I'm sure a new one is costly, so what about just sanding it down and keeping it oiled?
Best oil to use, veg, olive, or??

Thanks!
Bob

 

[Tom P]

I have let my grill rack rust before. All I did was clean it real well with a steel wool pad then oiled it up and put it over a hot fire with the lid closed. This did a great job so as I could use it. It only got better with each use.

Good luck!

 

[Bob Correll]

Thanks Tom!
I'll follow your advice.
Bob

 

[George Curtis]

i use a 3" brass wire brush in a drill. makes short work of the rust and junk.

 

[Larry D.]

I have a 30+ year old Weber kettle, and up until last year I was still using its original cooking grate. There was no nickel plating left, it was rusty. I wire brushed it, and then treated it like a piece of cast iron cookware: kept it dry, and oiled. It worked just fine.

 

[Bob Correll]

Thanks for the tips guys!

Hopefully I'll get the big feller fired up soon, and post some pics.
May have to take out a loan to buy enough meat/veggies to even partially cover the grate.