Welcome, Guest

Shop Amazon.com and support the WKC | WKC T-Shirts

Author Topic: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored  (Read 8508 times)

Hogsy

  • WKC Performer
  • Posts: 3649
1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« on: August 13, 2017, 01:53:10 AM »
First of all a massive thanks to Scott Pearce for the heads up and to @Bear for being my number one agent.
Thanks to everyone for the advice on restoring although a few said to just oil, I found that that the timber as so weathered it just made it a lot darker so after debating what to do I decided to go the full restore.
And glad I did, I had so much fun pulling this thing down and getting stuck into it. I did have to employ the services of my apprentice being such a big job


First step was to pull the whole thing apart and scrub down with a bristled scrubbing brush and hot soapy water
Here she is in all her glory. It's in amazing condition considering the age with all the timber and hardware in tact and a very well looked after kettle


All pulled down

After washing I gave it a light sand with 120 grit then 240 to finish. I was great seeing the timber coming back to life

Once it was all sanded back came the hard part. Deciding whether to restain or just oil, after testing some oil on the timber it was obvious it would go back to its original dark colour if I didn't stain. It was obvious that it had an original stain as the the shelf and inside of the doors that hadn't weathered stil had the stain and looked really good. This is the original stain untouched by me


After spending a bit of time researching everything on the net about Sequoias including other resto threads and all the old catalogues
and restoring weathered redwood. I decided to go with a spirit based stain rather than an all in one stain/sealer as these tended to be really thick and not enhance the grain
I trialled 6 different colours before deciding on
Prooftint Maple by Feast and Watson
One light coat applied with a cloth is all it needed


And then a coat of outdoor furniture oil which really made the grain pop
Top door just has stain, bottom door has stain and oil in this pic

Next was the hardware, I reused all the originals just removed the rust and touched up with flat black spray paint
The only thing I replaced was the axles which I upgraded to SS and the wheel hub caps
The kettle got the usual clean as well as the ash pan and wheels, just waiting on wheel inserts from Brian

Any way here she is all ready for service






















Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app
« Last Edit: August 13, 2017, 12:01:25 PM by Hogsy »
I'm only 2 or 3 kettles away from being that creepy guy down the street with all the Webers
                            WKC Collaborator
                        Viva La  Charcoal Revolution

bear

  • WKC Ranger
  • Posts: 888
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2017, 03:52:16 AM »
 

MacEggs

  • WKC Performer
  • Posts: 3472
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2017, 04:35:55 AM »

That looks incredible !!  Great work, Hogsy.  :D 8)
Q: How do you know something is bull$h!t?
A: When you are not allowed to question it.

Mr.CPHo

  • WKC Mod
  • Posts: 3880
1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2017, 04:46:25 AM »
Wow that is amazing.  Truly an exceptional restore. 

I also like that you got the youngin' involved; The future of our club.

All around an awesome post to wake up to.  TFS.
« Last Edit: August 13, 2017, 05:03:37 AM by Mr.CPHo »

mhiszem

  • WKC Performer
  • Posts: 3493
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2017, 04:53:09 AM »
What an amazing restore! Looks great!


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app
WGA, Uline Green SJ, '95 Red M/T, '88 Red 18", '01 Plum SSP, Patent Pending Yellow

simon

  • Happy Cooker
  • Posts: 2
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2017, 05:17:08 AM »
Amazing mate [emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

DellJones

  • WKC Ranger
  • Posts: 586
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2017, 05:25:11 AM »
Wow!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

WNC

  • WKC Performer
  • Posts: 4076
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2017, 05:34:58 AM »
Awesome!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

inkaddictedchef1

  • WKC Ranger
  • Posts: 1580
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2017, 05:43:22 AM »
Beautiful restore!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Weber Kettle Club mobile app


Rub

  • WKC Ranger
  • Posts: 1738
    • Swamp Boys BBQ
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2017, 05:47:11 AM »
Showroom fresh. Well done!


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app
In the market for unicorns to complete my collection: Ambassador, Plainsman, Meat Cut, Custom, Blue 18 MBH, Green 18 MBH

JEBIV

  • WKC Ambassador
  • Posts: 10387
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #10 on: August 13, 2017, 06:52:04 AM »
Can't think of an appropriate thing to say besides WOW

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Seeking a Black Sequoia I know I know, I'd settle for just the tabbed no leg grill

Neil_VT00

  • WKC Ranger
  • Posts: 1769
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #11 on: August 13, 2017, 07:13:39 AM »
Wow, amazing restore!


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app
Wanted: Burgundy 18"

Bob BQ

  • WKC Performer
  • Posts: 4621
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #12 on: August 13, 2017, 10:59:40 AM »
F*cking beautiful, @Hogsy! What method did you use to restore the sheen to those wheels?
« Last Edit: August 13, 2017, 11:01:26 AM by Bob BQ »
BBQ:it's what's for dinner. Grail: 18” Custom - "The Californian"

ken1968

  • Smokey Joe
  • Posts: 18
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #13 on: August 13, 2017, 11:54:25 AM »
Awesome!!! Great job on the restore.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

Hogsy

  • WKC Performer
  • Posts: 3649
Re: 1980 Weber Imperial Sequoia Restored
« Reply #14 on: August 13, 2017, 11:57:26 AM »

F*cking beautiful, @Hogsy! What method did you use to restore the sheen to those wheels?

I removed the white walls by tapping them out with a nail punch. The plastic was breaking down and powdery so I gave them a light sand and hit it with gloss white spray paint. Probably gave them 5 coats before it had a nice sealed finish
The wheels I just cleaned and sprayed with gloss black
Removing the white walls broke the lugs that fix them to the wheels, but a few dabs of silicon has them sitting tight on the wheels again



Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app
I'm only 2 or 3 kettles away from being that creepy guy down the street with all the Webers
                            WKC Collaborator
                        Viva La  Charcoal Revolution