Is this fixable? If so, is it worth it? And how...?

[Vinnybaggadonuts]

Vinny

[Bob BQ]

Is the rust fixable? A lot of folks put flax oil or other cooking oil on the rust to prevent further degradation. Is the dent in the lid rim fixable? Sure, it can probably be bent out with pliers.

Is it worth it?  Well... I'd guess that your grill is a cooker, and not a looker, so as opposed to buying a brand new grill, yes, I'd say it's worth it.

[jcnaz]

Vinny

Vinny, I'll throw in my opinion.

Yes, the beauty marks that you show are fixable, depending on what your definition of fixed is. They can be cleaned up, massaged, and blended into the rest of the lid nicely. They won't completely vanish though.

If you already own that kettle or can get it cheap, then it is worth it. That looks like an 22" Bar-B-Kettle. Not something that will have a high collector value, but will make a great cooker.

As for the how to do it part:

Are the handle welds solid? If they are, great! If not, drill through the strap and lid then put in stainless steel bolts, nuts, and fender washers.
The dimples that get formed where the handle meets the bowl can be pressed out by tapping from the inside of the lid with a rubber mallet. The porcelain is already chipped off, which is why you have some rust showing there.
As for the rim rash, just re-shape it the best you can. I use a wooden bench and a short piece of dowel. I put the edge of the lid on the bench and the dowel inside the rim. Tap on the dowel with a hammer to re-shape the rim.

Clean the rust off with #0000 steel wool, rub some vegetable oil on any bare metal, and start cooking.

That kettle is a great way to catch weberitis!

$0.02

[Vinnybaggadonuts]

My intention was maybe a cart, new ash catcher, new grates... etc...
At that point I’m “restoring” vs new....


Vinny