What causes the "faded black" kettles?

[kettlebb]

Wow! Thank you Jim for that example. The one on the right looks almost neon yellow. It's really hard for me to pick a favorite in that pic. Leaning towards the left yellow.


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[Neil_VT00]

Yep. Wood, grass, blacktop would not reflect. Does anyone have an example of faded red or other color?

Here's my red that has led a rough outdoor life.  From five feet it looks good, but when you get closer you see the fade.

[kettlebb]

Looks similar to my red MT. The lid looks dull if you will compared to the bowl. Maybe mine is faded also?



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[greenweb]

I tend to agree with brewtownbeatdown and pbe gummi bear statements. Combination of sun/uv exposure and cooking heat on thick orange peel black porcelain.  Something in the color pigment or chemical makeup on the final coat may contribute to fading also.

Here is my A-code I posted on other thread with even fade top to bottom. Don't think Sun/UV exposure alone over time can do this.






As for why not fade inside as asked by Cellar2ful  .... I have 2 possible explanation that may or may not apply.

First, due to smoke and grease and over time with film of crud forming on the surface- never get chance to haze or fade. Similar to how applying oil brings back faded exterior to black.

Second is bit more far fetched.  When kettle lids and bowls are sprayed at the manufacture, they are first sprayed with black bonder or primer similar but very different to exterior finial black coat which is applied after. I have seen light blue interior on Red MBH Cellar2ful has, but that is another story. This is why every other color lids and bowls has black interior.  So my theory is that they go thru. 2 step or 3 step process similar to how automotive manufactures paint their vehicles. Therefore, spray porcelain composition is different for exterior than interior. Concluding that interior spray chemical makeup lacks color pigment or something exterior makeup has on the final coat. 

[pbe gummi bear]

What is interesting to me about black fade is that it can be reversed or improved.  When I got the fleetwood last year, it had splotches and spots all over it.  I cleaned it all over with a sponge and apple cider vinegar per @1buckie, and then applied PAM.  A year later, the splotches are gone, and although the PAM treatment has worn off, it now has a beautiful, even patina.  I did a pork butt this weekend, and this is how it looked at 7am.  I've included the before pic below to show the transformation.



Before apple cider vinegar and PAM:

Certain oils can polymerize at temperature changing the characteristics of surface. It can make it darker, smoother, harder, etc. Its also possible that the porcelain has become porous and absorbed some of that initial coating of Pam.

[Vwbuggin64]

If you think about it, perhaps the earlier kettles have a different pigment in the paint, therefore over time it fades. Sunlight reacts to the pigments (or even time except for when it's in a garage). Manufactures are changing formulas constantly so that wouldn't surprise me.

[Troy]

it's probably something out of left field... like whether or not the original owner cleaned it with windex or something.

[swamprb]

This is an "N" code 18" WSM that had sat for years uncovered. The previous owners used it for a fire pit when they weren't burning meat! The were too effin' lazy to move it when they had their house painted.





The vents were corroded in place. I used a WD-40 type spray lube and noticed the color start to return to black from the faded grey.



I thought I had found the cure to the fade, but alas it was not to be! A day or two later the fade returned. Just as it had on the 3 Amigos.



Notice the greezey spots from the vents? These actually would not come clean.



I've had a half a dozen "touch of grey's" and even gone as far as to use Lard to try to "season" a hot kettle to restore the luster - to no avail.

Roll with it!

[Cellar2ful]

The thing I find interesting is it is not just a fade that occurs with the black kettles, over time it is a total degradation of the porcelain enamel finish.  At first these kettles become "faded blacks". Then with more time and exposure they move on to having what most of us refer to as having "patinas".  That is where the enamel becomes so thin, the metal starts showing through and rusting. It's not the type of ugly rust you see on grate strap blow outs though. I just don't see this "patina" happening on kettles other than black.

Here is a 18" that has moved on to the patina stage:

[Travis]

If that patina happens by leaving it exposed for some serious time, I'm going to do that to my faded black mbh.

Here's an example of how the fade can be cleaned up
.
Yesterday's cook. Been a few months since heated up.


Today's. Sprayed with pam while heating. The boards on the ground are what I lay the lid on...


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[kettlebb]

Looks great Travis. How long does that Pam treatment last?


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[WNC]

This is one of my favorite looks right now, so hoping one like that will pop up near me


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[HoosierKettle]

@travis that 26er is a beauty. Either I haven't noticed or I haven't seen one with a flat spot under the handle. You can see the spin nicely too.  Pretty incredible. I can tell you my modern 26 is boring to look at in comparison.


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[HoosierKettle]

This is one of my favorite looks right now, so hoping one like that will pop up near me


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I agree. Love that look. My favorite old kettles are ones with some wear and battle scars, but a perfect patina like that is incredible.


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[Travis]

@kettlebb  How long it last probably depends on usage and if it's covered. Mines covered and I've sprayed it twice this year.
@HoosierKettle Grass is greener, I guess. I'd like to have a newer one. I think they're absolutely beautiful, especially with a set of nice wood handles...

Here's the original post of how it came to me

http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/thank-you-madmax/msg225700/#msg225700


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