Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: haeffb on May 15, 2016, 04:39:31 PM
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Saw this on CL today and decided it was a beautiful day for a road trip.
It's a B-code with a lid in pretty good condition, but the bowl is not - two of the leg sockets have rusted off and the third is barely holding on.
Any suggestions for what should be done with it?
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160516/18a4c02a5d41988e9efbb93715b083b9.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160516/77289d8609a98ab7c242b3b0505c53df.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160516/536e996e8b4284756509ef099d45f6df.jpg)
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If the rest of the bowl is good, I would consider using fender washers and bolts to attatch the legs back on. It would make a grate cooker.
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Even if the legs are beyond repair and you don't do what Darko said, you can always put it in an old steel wheel, or rig something up.
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Or, another option is, Restore the lid & use it as a display piece That orange peel looks great.
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Great orange peel on that lid for sure!
I would salvage the bowl vents, legs, wheels, triangle, etc... for spare parts. Maybe see if anyone needs the lid for a UDS.
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Nah, that lid is too nice to use on a UDS. It needs to be restored.
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More to the story:
There's never much in the way of Weber on CL in my area, so my radius has expanded. This one was in Kansas City, about 2.5 hours away.
My other Webers include a purchased-new AH, an EZ that I partially restored and turned into a OTG, and an M that is just sitting for parts. After spotting the metal bowl handles in the ad pic, I messaged the seller and she agreed to hold it while my lovely wife and I departed for a road trip.
About three hours later (stopped for lunch at Popeyes) we arrived in her driveway. I was a little disappointed to see the leg sockets were rusted, but experience should have told me that from looking at the ad.
The seller (I'll call her that even though the price was free) told us that the grill had belonged to her Grandfather, and he'd passed it on to her. She used it as long as she could but figured that now it was beyond hope.
I'd like to restore it to at least turn it into a cooker again. Where can I find tips on how to use the fender washers to reattach the leg sockets? I think that's the most serious issue to deal with. Two of the bowl vent wheels are stuck, but should probably free up with a little work. The other moves well.
The slightly misshapen twist-on ash catcher was included as well.
Any advice would be appreciated!
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Also, I was surprised by how heavy the lid seems compared to my newer kettles...
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Where can I find tips on how to use the fender washers to reattach the leg sockets?
@haeffb , here (http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/my-socket-repair/msg15802/#msg15802) you go...
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Fire pit!
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+1 on the fire pit
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If I drove all that way, I'd probably try to get her back on her legs. Especially with that gorgeous orange peel.
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Ok. I've been wondering the orange peel meant. Looking at the lid, ya'll mean all the paint texture, for lack of correct words. Is that something that happens with time? From the factory? Type of paint being used at the time?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Ok, so I am thinking through a couple of options for reattaching the leg sockets. Two have broken completely free from the bowl, the third is hanging on by one tab/weld.
Here's a closeup of one of the socket locations:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160516/43188e98c09b5b0eb33108a932eb2da6.jpg)
You can see the largest hole is nearly the diameter of one of the legs.
Option 1: Rotate the sockets by 60deg and drill holes for SS bolts/nuts.
Option 1b: See if I can find someone to re-weld the sockets after rotating 60 deg (More expensive).
Option 2: Use double SS washers to "sandwich" the bowl and bolt back in the original orientation.
Option 1 means that I still need to find a way to seal the holes rusted through the bowl at the original orientation. I've seen JBWeld and Quicksteel both mentioned in other threads. Some of the socket tabs still have a piece of bowl/weld attached that would have to be sawed or ground off.
Option 2 should eliminate the need for sealing the holes, but may not be as strong a fix depending on how weak the bowl is already.
Am I missing other options? Which would you use?
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May not show too well, but look at the shadow of the green MBH '78 lid on the left, and a similar aged Happy Cooker lid on the right, and you can see the finish.
Much more character than later smooth ones.
These tend to be heavier as well...
(http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b505/dazzo16/posts/random/20160306_134456_zpsy6o3nydx.jpg)
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Here is a link posted by Brian (@zavod44 ) with pictures of his repair of rusted out leg sockets using washers. Your leg sockets and bowl appear to be in much better shape than the ones he repaired on his posting. I think option #2 will work fine.
http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/like-a-phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes/msg119567/#msg119567
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Restoration commencing. Here are before/after shots of the triangle, sitting on a bucket where the ash pan is soaking in CLR.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160516/2ed12a4ddb26da1a6e4066ff45414729.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160516/84474908022fe53901b41efbfb4bd906.jpg)
Use a razor scraper and 00 steel wool. There's still a little rust in a few spots that had gone through the chrome, but I think it looks pretty good for only a little work.
The lid and bowl are soaking in EasyOff in a plastic trash bag overnight and will work on cleaning them up tomorrow.
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Ok. I've been wondering the orange peel meant. Looking at the lid, ya'll mean all the paint texture, for lack of correct words. Is that something that happens with time? From the factory? Type of paint being used at the time?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It was something at the time. Whether it was the amount of porcelien enamel or the formula I don't know but the old colours look great.
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The lid and bowl are cleaning up nicely.
The "orange peel" is on the inside of the lid as well - I can't tell if the texture is in the steel, or just in the porcelain coating.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/89624506c6dae64493a8560c5eba2c09.jpg)
The ash pan is going to take a LOT of work to restore - this is after soaking in CLR overnight:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/cb62c4462a5c5be72eb426d9a3c7d61c.jpg)
And some work to reshape:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/d3ee3a857882a85870dc28f7922dd8bf.jpg)
The daisy wheels are also caked with crud that's going to take work to remove:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/db2c7cf7e3a4fbcf54bef4e0782ec224.jpg)
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Looks like you're well on your way! I'd make sure you get a picture to the seller/donor when you're all done.
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Two legs cleaned up, with the third in the foreground to see if you can tell the difference!
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/3f79928a5cb767032c472bf10202046b.jpg)
Test fitting the hardware:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/0844021f04cc84122ae3dd1fe94975f1.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160517/b6e05ccdff90083923398cb99e4e5c43.jpg)
Drilling the holes in the sockets with a hand drill wasn't easy - the drill tended to move off to the left. You can seen in the second photo how the holes aren't centered. There's still enough metal left to hold them in place, though, I think. For future reference, I'd recommend finding someone with a drill press.
Question: What should I do about the rust in the bowl at the leg sockets? I'd like to clean it up and seal it somehow, but worried that rust is all that is there!
And I will definitely be sending a photo to the donor when it's done.
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The orange peel is all in the porcelain. Nothing to do with the steel.
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The second socket went a little better - used a 5/64 bit to start a hole away from the weld indentation.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160518/33838fcb72402d740204d498ab05a43d.jpg)
Drilled two of three tabs on the third socket, since the third was still attached.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160518/f50ab4153a0159bfb3c77b8011faca26.jpg)
Also spent some time cleaning the top vent.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160518/09ed680f773071ebf4b4a31db8cb43d5.jpg)
This thing is about ready to put back together - just need to decide what to do with the rusty parts of the bowl at the leg sockets and a bit more cleaning up. Ash pan is going to be a while still.
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Forgot to detail the SS hardware that will be used to reattach the leg sockets:
18 - 1"X1/4" fender washers
9 - 10x32 pan head machine screws
9 - lock washers
9 - flat washers
9 - nuts
Total of about $10 at the local ACE hardware.
Plus one leg cap, sandpaper, steel wool and chemicals that I had on hand.
The holes in the sockets were done with a 13/64ths bit. The second and third sockets were started with a 5/64ths bit to avoid the weld dimple. Used an angle grinder to remove the welded/rusted bowl pieces from the leg sockets.
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Continuing the adventure, I decided to try some high heat Krylon on the rusted bowl in the leg socket areas, inside and out. The black doesn't match the bowl, obviously, but it'll be underneath and mostly hidden. Here's a shot of the still attached socket:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/b5ef7304d5efb070d18dde4612144fc1.jpg)
And a shot of the inside of the bowl at one of the other sockets:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/9ac42572be38ecf310a51ae3baba3f58.jpg)
And the handle sanded and with a coat of spar urethane:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/dac8580e64a38b871c4ce7ea2b0c6879.jpg)
Quite a difference from the original photos:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/b74e895820ef32f030312d8f3ac4d54d.jpg)
This didn't come from the kettle in question, but it made a nice reward for all the work so far:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/359981ae2f2376b63ab917c892356469.jpg)
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Back on her feet with some makeup and new bling:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/d0ed2e7759590303949a660fd6f3aa05.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/caa305f88328b83093b6cbbd5a39521e.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/5e8726f4997754745634ec063655f9c5.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/6cea4cedbcb97bc60e0ab6ccd1b36561.jpg)
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Man, that was a lot of work. Sure did clean up nice. Good job bud.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Man, that was a lot of work. Sure did clean up nice. Good job bud.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks! It was a learning experience - hopefully will come in handy when I find that "Holy Grail."
I've offered to give it back to the donor, but I have a feeling she thinks I'm some kind of stalker. Who drives 2.5 hours to your house to pick up a grill you're throwing away, then keeps sending you text messages to show what it's become? :)
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Nice job. Looks great.
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Grill Karma:
The donor contacted me today and she is going to get it back at no charge - when we picked it up last Sunday, she told us that she was going to her Grandmother's visitation after we left. It was her Grandfather's grill, and she is thrilled to be getting it back, back on its feet and prettied up. Seems like the right thing to do.
Not an hour later I found another option on Craigslist - setting things up to get it Sunday.
More to come.
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Back on her feet with some makeup and new bling:
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/d0ed2e7759590303949a660fd6f3aa05.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/caa305f88328b83093b6cbbd5a39521e.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/5e8726f4997754745634ec063655f9c5.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160519/6cea4cedbcb97bc60e0ab6ccd1b36561.jpg)
@haeffb
One word to describe your work and generosity. OUTSTANDING! I am super happy to see that you brought this old soldier back to life! It's even more neat that you're giving it back to the original family to cherish as an heirloom for years to come. There's something about the late 70s through early 80s kettles and that orange peel finish. Always stunning! Again great job on that. Its got many, many more years of service and new memories to create left in it. To @dazzo 's point, the lids on these (compared to the newer kettles) seem heavier, in a good way. 8)
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Great work and ethics!
What did you use on the lid vent?
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Just noticed it's a backwards B!
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Great work and ethics!
What did you use on the lid vent?
#0000 Steel wool followed by Mothers' mag polish. Somewhere along the line, the rivet got cleaned up too - I think it was the polish that took off the rust, but I wasn't really paying attention.
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Question - the grill had the leg spring clips with a twist-on ash pan. We're the clips OEM on the 1980's model, or did someone add them on later? I didn't put them back on because they seemed unnecessary with the twist-on pan...
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The spring clips with the twist on pan were correct for the B vintage. Mine had them too.