Broken grate holder tab inside kettle

[Hell Fire Grill]

Oh I still use it.

[zavod44]

Oh I figured you did, but you got to get that bad boy back to 100%....

[Hogsy]

Not sure
It seemed like it was painted then spot welded as the back of the tab and bowl all had a full coat of paint

Any kind of welding requires metal to metal contact. Any impurities such as porcelain enamel would compromise the weld. Spot welding in particular requires passing current through the two pieces of metal and that requires a conductive path between them.

Yeah that makes sense Hank

[Heyjude]

Just to clarify, they stamp out all the parts, electrically weld all the brackets, clean them, then they apply porcelain coating , which is heated to 1400 degrees. No paint!  That's why they last. Its my blelief that they chip at he welded points first. Likely because the metal wan't cleaned real well before the application. 

[Hell Fire Grill]

I finally got this project done today, as much as I hate to drill holes in a nearly perfect kettle. On the bright side the grate stays where its supposed to now. Cost less than $3 but took 2 years to get done.

[Heyjude]

Looks Stock to me!

[Hell Fire Grill]

Thanks!

I think I'll replace the rusty bolts that attach the kettle to the frame with some SS next.

[glrasmussen]

Thanks!

I think I'll replace the rusty bolts that attach the kettle to the frame with some SS next.

I'm sure in less than two years. No problem with that fix, look great.

[zavod44]

Great job, no one in the world would ever look twice....maybe the nerds here but nevermind them anyhow!

[HankB]

Looks like a good fix. I like Brian's suggestion. Of course he derailed our long drawn out conversation about how they were installed in the first place.   

Now you need to cook something greasy in there to rustproof the fix. 

[Hell Fire Grill]

Great job, no one in the world would ever look twice....maybe the nerds here but nevermind them anyhow!

HEY!! I resemble that remark. At around 20 kettles.

[Hell Fire Grill]

Looks like a good fix. I like Brian's suggestion. Of course he derailed our long drawn out conversation about how they were installed in the first place.   

Now you need to cook something greasy in there to rustproof the fix. 

Cooked some chicken the same day. Thanks!