Sapele wood slats (in progress): genesis 1000lx restoration

[ChrisArgentino]

For the past couple weeks, I’ve been looking into wooden slats for my free roadside, Genesis LX. Just being able to give this grill a new and proper home makes me happy to do it even though the cost isn’t particularly cheap. I plan to keep this grill for personal use. It is my first restoration and the first time I’m working with wood. This build is going to have the side table, two bottom wood tables and a flip up one.

Here’s how far I am into my restoration.

-found green top Genesis LX for free and brought it home

- gave everything a cleaning with soap and water

- removed all parts and disassembled frame

- stripped and painted end caps/firebox/logo

- new 16 gauge flavorizer bars

- sanded and painted manifold

- replaced broken castors

- new stainless steel hardware

- new cover and propane cover

- stripped and painted frame (have to re do

- new burner tubes

-new z bars (Dave Santana )

WOOD-
- acquired some reallllly nice Sapele 1x2 hardwood. Sapele is extremely bug and rot resistant. This wood is harder than a lot of woods. It’s similar to mahogany but sapele is less red, slightly lighter, and harder. The reason why it looks so dull and light in the picture is because it’s freshly sanded. Once a coating is added it will look much different. I got enough wood for 34 slats and a handle. I bought extra z bars and lumber to also add a sapele side table to my Spirit 700. Lumber ended up costing around $150

-bought a hand saw, electric planer and sander

- cut sapele into 15.25 sections

-planed down wood from 3/4 inch to 11/16

-sanded all sides and rounded off edges

-going to add spar varnish to all sides (this will brighten wood and enhance grain tremendously)

 

[Steve Hoch]

The wood looks really nice so far, but don't overlook the importance of the spacing of the slats when assembling the tables. The top ones are obviously easier because the slats go to the edge of the Zbars on both ends. The bottoms are a little more challenging since the slats need to start and end inset of the edge of the Zbars to line up correctly. Hopefully you still have the original bottom tables intact to use as a guide.

 

[ChrisArgentino]

The wood looks really nice so far, but don't overlook the importance of the spacing of the slats when assembling the tables. The top ones are obviously easier because the slats go to the edge of the Zbars on both ends. The bottoms are a little more challenging since the slats need to start and end inset of the edge of the Zbars to line up correctly. Hopefully you still have the original bottom tables intact to use as a guide.

Thank you!

I have one of the original for the bottom. Are the two bottoms the same?

 

[Steve Hoch]

Thank you!

I have one of the original for the bottom. Are the two bottoms the same?

One is good enough, they are the same.