So, I'm assembling a kettle for my best friend's 26th wedding anniversary . . . (Done!)

[Tim Snyder]

That is a terrific gift and kudos to you for going to all that work, they’ll love it. But I can’t help but think a 26” kettle would have stolen the show on their 26th anniversary.

I agree.

But my friends really aren't grill enthusiasts like the folks here and wouldn't appreciate the gesture the same way. I think they'd be more like, "why is it so big?"

 

[Tim Snyder]

Project at a stall now, waiting for parts.

 

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

This is what the button screws look like for reference.

 

[CharlieO]

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Nice and clean Tim!
Not like my eyesore

 

[C Lewis]

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The acorn nuts look great Tim! Definitely finishes off the hinge real well.

Charlie

 

[Tim Snyder]

Delivered the grill this past weekend. My friends seemed impressed (for not being enthusiasts) and liked the personalization. I'll post the finished photos later, I left my camera at their place. (That's my bluebird house design and build in the photo on the left).

 

[Brenda T]

That turned out great. Awesome gift!

 

[Tim Snyder]

I got a some consultant help from my wife on this one. She says for a quick cook? Surf and Turf; thick cut. reverse seared ribeyes and a skewer or two of big shrimp kissed with pecan and mesquite smoke. Of course, seasoned to your preference; dry brined, hand rubbed, etc.... choices, choices. .Gonna be an awesome day.

B.A. we did exactly this. Costco Prime ribeye (had to second mortgage the house for those), shrimp with a garlic, lemon, and fresh herbs from the garden marinade, pecan smoke. Also slow cooked a full rack of spare ribs. I think I took photos, but celebratory alcohol was involved, so once I retrieve my camera I'll see if there are photos to post. Thanks for the idea, everyone loved the food.

I left a ribeye behind and my friend made that as his first cook on a Weber kettle the next day. Pretty good first try I think.

 

[CharlieO]

Looks like it turned out great!
I see you added an ash sweep handle to it. Who did you end up getting that from? RCW said he wasn’t making them at this time.

 

[Tim Snyder]

Looks like it turned out great!
I see you added an ash sweep handle to it. Who did you end up getting that from? RCW said he wasn’t making them at this time.

Yes, good catch. The ash sweep handle is from eBay seller, executor70. Very nice quality.

 

[Bruno]

Original hardware on the left, my choice of hardware on the right.

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Below, my hardware on the left, original on the right. I feel good about the aluminum washers against the kettle. Weber must do it for a reason. I believe the aluminum will conform the the slight curve of the bowl and the aluminum will protect the porcelain from the expansion/contration/flexing of the hard steel screws. I also think the washers give a higher standard of build appearance.

I chose slotted screws because that's what Weber has used in the past and I believe they will be easier to clean than other choices. Have fun digging a couple of years of hardened gunk out of that screw on the right.

You can see how close the grate is to the screw heads, that's why I put the nuts on the outside.

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Like a craftsman should do! Great job Tim!!

 

[C Lewis]

Looks great Tim, really looking forward to the pics. Your friends are very lucky to have a friend like you.

Charlie

 

[CharlieO]

Yes, good catch. The ash sweep handle is from eBay seller, executor70. Very nice quality.

Did you get the other handles through RCW? How did you like them?
I just received mine today and put them on and love they way they look!

 

[EricV.]

Brian O'Neil of www.grillhandle.com has now started making ash sweep handles. Here is his Ebay listings for the ash sweep handles only:

| eBay

 

[Tim Snyder]

Wrapping up this project with a few detail photos and some photos of our first cooks. I took B.A. Poole and his wife's advice and cooked up garlic and herb shrimp, prime ribeye, and a full rack of spare ribs for good measure. Also our inaugural attempt at Vortex wings this past weekend.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and support!

 

[Tim Snyder]

Did you get the other handles through RCW? How did you like them?
I just received mine today and put them on and love they way they look!

Yes, RCW, very happy with the results. He also met my 2-week deadline with no problem.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

Tim, that’s a wonderful gift! That’s where I would position the hinge were it me. The extras you did are truly elegant, fine work sir!

 

[CharlieO]

Yes, RCW, very happy with the results. He also met my 2-week deadline with no problem.

And bumped my order in the process
It’s all good I was in no rush for them.

Everything you planned turned out great!
Now you need to restore that gasser for them or find them a redhead to sit next to the Anniversary grill.

 

[Tim Snyder]

And bumped my order in the process
It’s all good I was in no rush for them.

Everything you planned turned out great!
Now you need to restore that gasser for them or find them a redhead to sit next to the Anniversary grill.

Thanks! We were talking about restoring that gas grill. They bought it new. It is getting a bit rough.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

RCW does great work, I try to not rush this kind of work from anyone that is as good as he is. Give them the time to do what they do. The custom cypress pieces he did for me are really spectacular!