Weber Kettle Club Forums

Grill Talk => Weber Mods, Tables and Customs => Topic started by: DrewZ on January 03, 2019, 06:17:52 AM

Title: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: DrewZ on January 03, 2019, 06:17:52 AM
I was looking for something to install in a non-assist SSP cart, so I decided to use a new Limited Edition kettle.  It comes with the lid bale holes pre-drilled, and has only one bowl handle.  Since the bowl handle is not an asset in an SSP cart, I removed it with this Harbor Freight spot weld cutter (https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-double-sided-rotary-spot-weld-cutter-63657.html) and some gentle persuasion. 

I tapped the bolts out of the taco handle strap, and used them to secure the bowl handle to the lid.  The current handle is just a standard plastic handle spray painted black.  I may play around with other handle options and touch up the handle strap with some high temp red paint.  In the meantime, I prefer the aesthetics of the work-in-progress handle to the taco handle.  The nice thing is that it's fully reversible. 

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/arlY-20dVVawch75ExRb6ITlYjAgcdxMxB7dF9GM-GXNHF3JUthvap5_mpKB_6PC00cjR2vycAsIgh_ddjeUacWDDk4Gr-KCSj8UA9aNDEEuErq6fovbIqWyuHD7EK4QMBExDc29sQ=w800)
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: HoosierKettle on January 03, 2019, 06:44:54 AM
Love it. I’m not a fan of the taco. I’ve got an extra black handle strap that is going to be used to de-taco my 26 when I get a chance. I will also remove the thermo and replace with painted stainless bolt and washer.


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Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Craig on January 05, 2019, 03:23:54 PM
Sweet setup, Drew!
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Firemunkee on January 05, 2019, 04:12:31 PM
Looking good, Drew!

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Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: jacko1962 on January 15, 2019, 08:16:08 AM
Why is the taco frowned upon?  My grills do not have one and I have never grilled with one either. Some put them on and some take them off. Just wondering.
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: HoosierKettle on January 15, 2019, 09:21:23 AM

Why is the taco frowned upon?  My grills do not have one and I have never grilled with one either. Some put them on and some take them off. Just wondering.

Just personal preference. Some prefer the classic look of the old handle setups without the taco.


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Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: DrewZ on January 15, 2019, 09:43:25 AM
Why is the taco frowned upon?  My grills do not have one and I have never grilled with one either. Some put them on and some take them off. Just wondering.

I just like the cleaner look of the old-style handle strap on a kettle lid.

The taco handle looks right at home on my mini-chimney, though.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mHdRrtBpfc3IQBy3sQEgKiKVThKNfHVOSpMFrIDlk0Ra55oSMCA_OXxFbvm9hCY5qbVEVeJlLJ_onqBeg9tJDgyGqRlOApMAyt2RaQb5KiIJhAVx9ssjlLUa7GKUlozQk-av3JshsA=w800)
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: jacko1962 on January 15, 2019, 09:56:15 AM
Thanks all. I hear what your saying about the clean lines. I have considered a taco on my pizza kettle with the extreme heat on the hand.
Title: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Jan M. on January 21, 2019, 12:28:26 PM
I don’t care about a taco or not.
If there is one OK if not also OK.
I don’t like to change the original appearance of a kettle to much.


As already been said it’s a personal preference.




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Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Darko on January 23, 2019, 10:07:18 AM
I don't mind the taco itself, I think it's a good idea. My problem is that I like putting wood handles on my grills, and the shape of the handle strap doesn't work well with the wood traditional style handle aesthetically.
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Jules V. on January 24, 2019, 12:11:37 AM
Taco doesn't have to look bad with a wooden handle.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190124/3103fc9f3fc08134d2a0052385f6d93b.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190124/3b9aba947c90c85b5e657456c82d3549.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190124/eec9041b2a518283b14c5b67209525d2.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190124/4549e150b9cd0a13858923297b8048bf.jpg)
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Darko on January 24, 2019, 11:01:17 AM
That I like.
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: WNC on January 25, 2019, 02:48:12 AM

Taco doesn't have to look bad with a wooden handle.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190124/3103fc9f3fc08134d2a0052385f6d93b.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190124/3b9aba947c90c85b5e657456c82d3549.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190124/eec9041b2a518283b14c5b67209525d2.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190124/4549e150b9cd0a13858923297b8048bf.jpg)
Jules, are those just the regular taco handle straps bent into that more square shape, or are they replacements of some kind? And if replacements, where do you find them?
Thanks!


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Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Jules V. on January 25, 2019, 08:12:58 AM
Jules, are those just the regular taco handle straps bent into that more square shape, or are they replacements of some kind? And if replacements, where do you find them?
Thanks!


Those are stock straps that i reshaped.
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Darko on January 25, 2019, 09:57:21 AM
Is it difficult to do? I wouldn't want to screw it up.
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: hawgheaven on January 29, 2019, 06:33:52 AM
My take is, the "taco" is a good idea. It has a purpose... IT'S A HEAT SHIELD FOLKS!! And it works well. Good Gawd, get over it. It's there. Ya' don't like it, then remove it. Period.
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Darko on January 29, 2019, 10:24:59 AM
With me, and most people, I think, the issue isn't the taco, but more the shape of the handle strap.
Title: Re: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: ReyJ on March 07, 2019, 10:36:33 AM
Jules, are those just the regular taco handle straps bent into that more square shape, or are they replacements of some kind? And if replacements, where do you find them?
Thanks!


Those are stock straps that i reshaped.

How'd you reshape them? Because after looking at mine, I think I'll have to do that to install wood handles.
Title: De-Tacofication of a Red LE
Post by: Jules V. on March 07, 2019, 11:09:50 AM
Quote from: Jules V.

How'd you reshape them? Because after looking at mine, I think I'll have to do that to install wood handles.
[/quote
Dismantle the strap.
Cut off at the red line as shown on the photo.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190307/980b6dd113cd847aa14064a40fba983c.jpg)
Fully flatten/straighten the strap.
Bend it  to shape.
Drill 2 holes for the bolts.
Cut off excess and round off the tips.
Polish the strap.
Use fiber washers/gaskets on both sides of the lid.
The fiber washers allows you to use a regular nut and fully tighten it without damaging the porcelain. 
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190307/7500d91edfc1d2262a238ccec02aeff5.jpg)
Stainless nuts and 1" fender washers. 
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190307/e6d903b7beb392a0e31076a7244b05b5.jpg)
Without the taco shell. The stainless strap doesn't look right so i decided to use the taco.

There are all types of high heat fiber  washers/gaskets but  i actually use flexible graphite. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190307/3cf058b7c9a44ba86a2f19369c9d44b2.jpg)